Iranian FM in Armenia: "I am happy to pay my first visit to the friendly country"

On Tuesday Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki, reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. During the meeting the parties discussed bilateral cooperation matters, as well as a package of energy programs and increase of Iranian investments to Armenia's economy. Within that context the interlocutors paid attention to the latest session of the Armenian-Iranian Inter-Governmental Commission in Teheran. During the meeting progress in relations between the two countries was registered. Meeting participants also discussed Iran's nuclear program. In this respect the Iranian FM reaffirmed his country's commitment to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Relations between Iran and Armenia successfully develop in all fields, especially energy and transport, FMs of Armenia and Iran Vartan Oskanian and Manouchehr Mottaki stated at a news conference in Yerevan today. In Iranian FM's words, new horizons of cooperation open to the two neighboring states. "I am happy I paid my first visit to the friendly country. Our countries have an old common history and I had many Armenian friends, with whom I studied at school and university. My conviction is that our countries have a large potential to develop cooperation in different fields. Our example should have a positive impact on situation in the region," Mottaki remarked. Answering a question on Iran's position on settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Manouchehr Mottaki remarked that his county hopes for progress in the talks. "The IRI is ready to promote and assist in solving the issue," he said.

In his turn Armenian FM V.Oskanian remarked: "The farther you go, the harder it is. It is impossible to solve the settlement issue at once. The Armenian and Azeri FMs will have another meeting in Washington in March, where a decision on further steps will be made."

Head of the Armenian MFA also remarked any agreement should have not been expected from the Rambouillet talks. "However, it does not cast a shadow on previous achievements and it does not mean there will be no progress within a year. Taking into account the de facto situation, Nagorno Karabakh cannot step back in any circumstances. The NK issue has always been considered in the political plane, the legal plane forms a basis for making a political decision," Oskanian remarked.

As of statements of the Azeri party that the Armenian party left the talks before their completion, in Oskanian's words it is absurd. "The President of Armenia was in Rambouillet for two days and he returned to Yerevan as scheduled," he emphasized.

Later this day Secretary of the National Security Council at the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. During the meeting S. Sargsyan congratulated the Iranian people on the 27th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. The visit of Manouchehr Mottaki to Armenia will convey a new impulse to the developing cooperation between Yerevan and Teheran, Serge Sargsyan said. In his turn the Iranian FM noted the importance of bilateral defense and security cooperation. Speaking of regional cooperation the interlocutors noted the fact of Armenia and Iran pursuing a policy aimed at establishment of regional stability. Armenian Deputy FM Arman Kirakosyan, Armenian Ambassador to Iran Karen Nazaryan and Iran's Ambassador to Armenia, Alireza Haqiqian were present at the meeting.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/