Armenian Minister Calls for Cooperation with Iran

TEHRAN (IRNA)—Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian called for further cooperation with Iran, particularly in the field of defense during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Sunday.

The Armenian defense minister and his entourage arrived in Tehran on Saturday upon official invitation by his Iranian counterparts, where the two officials exchanged views on bilateral ties and economic cooperation as well as regional and international developments.

Mottaki underlined the necessity of adopting an “inter-regional mechanism” to help resolve regional crises.

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, who also met with his Armenian counterpart, called for collective regional cooperation to resolve crises.

Vahidi cited terrorism, organized crimes, illegal entries, drug trafficking, and intervention by extra-regional forces as the issues threatening the security of the region.

“Establishing a secure environment is possible only through the development and reinvigoration of all-out ties among regional countries, especially through direct defensive and security relations,” Vahidi said.

Ohanian highlighted the significance of bilateral cooperation for promoting regional security, saying that the crises in the region can only be solved through constructive bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and stressed Armenia’s resolve to increase mutual cooperation with Iran.

It requires collective contribution to help resolve regional problems, the Armenian defense minister emphasized.

“We believe that all regional conflicts, differences or crises will be resolved through peaceful means.”

The Armenian defense minister expressed satisfaction over his visit to Iran and said Armenia attaches special attention to the expansion of ties and cooperation with the Islamic Republic.