Iran, Georgia stress expansion of all-out ties

Foreign Ministers of Iran and Georgia, in a meeting in New York, reiterated the two countries' resolve to expand mutual cooperation in all fields, Fars news agency reported.

During the meeting held on the sidelines of the 66th UN General Assembly session, Ali Akbar Salehi and Grigol Vashadze explored avenues for the expansion of bilateral ties.

Salehi pointed to the two nations' age-old relations, and said, "The two countries' ties are progressing, but the two sides' potential capacities are far beyond the current level of cooperation, thus, it is necessary to identify and mobilize the possibilities and take the existing opportunities."

Vashadze, too, expressed pleasure in the growing ties between Tehran and Tbilisi, and said, "We should try to enhance the bilateral relations to a new level up through activating the two countries' cooperation."

He further praised Iran's stances in the international circles, and urged continued consultations between the two countries.

Iran and Georgia have in recent years accelerated their efforts to expand bilateral and regional cooperation in all the various fields.

In November, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili had underlined the Islamic Republic of Iran's important role in the regional and international developments.

"Iran is not an ordinary country for us and we believe that the country is now playing a key role in regional and global developments," Saakashvili said in a meeting with former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Georgian capital city of Tbilisi.

He described Iran as part of his country's national dignity and culture, and called for the expansion of relations between the two countries.

"We are sensitive to all issues pertaining to the Islamic Republic of Iran," Saakashvili stated.


/Trend/