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Kocharian Visits Iran, Discusses Closer Ties

by Asbarez Staff
January 21, 2010
in Armenia, Featured Story, International, News, Top Stories
12
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TEHRAN (RFE/RL)–Former President Robert Kocharian has visited Iran and reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to further deepening relations with the Islamic Republic, it emerged on Thursday.

Kocharian met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Tehran during the two-day trip that marked his first major political engagement since resignation.

The official Iranian IRNA news agency cited Ahmadinejad as calling the Armenian-Iranian relationship “very friendly” and saying that the two neighboring countries are “determined to implement joint projects and play an active role in regional developments.”

Ahmadinejad said those developments are favoring “independent and justice-seeking nations around the globe.” “Those who have always masterminded plots against us are becoming very weak and the powerful states and their justice-seeking nations are on the right track, determined to broaden level of relations and cooperation with one another,” he told Kocharian on Thursday.

“The visiting former Armenian president, for his part, said that his country is to broaden all-out relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and underscored that the two sides enjoy ample untapped capacities to increase current level of mutual and regional relations and cooperation,” reported IRNA.

Kocharian was reported to give similar assurances to Mottaki on Wednesday. According to “The Tehran Times” daily, he also criticized “foreign powers’ prescriptions for resolving crises in the Caucasus region.” The paper did not elaborate.

Kocharian’s office in Yerevan said it will release details of the talks in the coming days. Victor Soghomonian, a spokesman for the ex-president, told RFE/RL that the visit was the result of a “state invitation” extended by the Iranian leadership.

It was not immediately clear if Kocharian acted in a purely personal capacity or carried messages to Tehran from his successor and longtime ally, Serzh Sarkisian. Kocharian has kept a low profile in Armenia since completing his second and final term in office in April 2008.

Kocharian presided over a deepening of Armenia’s economic cooperation with Iran, mainly focusing on energy, throughout his decade-long rule. He and Ahmadinejad inaugurated in March 2007 the first Armenian section of a natural gas pipeline connecting the two nations. The ex-president was also present at the official launch of the pipeline’s final section in December 2008.

Armenia began importing Iranian gas in May 2009, one month after Sarkisian’s official visit to Tehran during which the two governments reaffirmed plans to implement more joint energy projects. Those include the construction of a big hydro-electric plant on the Arax river marking the Armenian-Iranian border and a third high-voltage transmission line connecting the two countries’ power grids.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei welcomed the “expansion of amicable ties with the Armenian nation and government” during talks with Sarkisian.

Tags: Iran
Asbarez Staff

Asbarez Staff

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Comments 12

  1. Levon says:
    13 years ago

    Aman Asdvadz!!!
    Who the hell gave him back the reigns to speak on behalf of the RA?????

    Reply
    • Serge says:
      13 years ago

      Atleast he was better than Sarkisian who came up with stupid Protocol.

      Reply
  2. Hovo says:
    13 years ago

    We need Iran’s help and gas more than opening borders with enemy [turks].

    Reply
  3. Toros says:
    13 years ago

    taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kocharyan
    Kocharyan successfully implemented the oligarchik system in the Armenian economy. On top of that within 12 years he became the richest person of the country, just taking under family control most important state owned assets.

    Reply
  4. Levon says:
    13 years ago

    Levon jan, he has never been outside the scope of running the country. He is only keeping a low profile. “His mafyoso men” are everywhere. Including the very powerful parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, a.k.a. Moog. The new Yerevan city mayor, Gagig  Beglaryan, a.k.a. Chorni Gago (meaning black Gago). Gagik Tsarukyan, a.k.a. Dodi Gago (meaning Dumb Gago). Just to name a couple………………. Robo is indeed around……………..

    Reply
  5. Vacheh says:
    13 years ago

    President Serj Sargsyan and his foriegn minister should perhaps learn a lesson from Kocharian to recognize as who is the friend of Armenia and who is the enemy. Armenians in Iran are perhaps the only large diasporan community close to Armenia who have not suffered from the Ittihadist planned Genocide or from the Azerbaijani conducted atrocities (Baku, Sumgait, etc.). The credit should go to the kind and generous Iranian people, with their ancient culture of hospitality and respect to Christian minotities.

    Reply
  6. Vahe says:
    13 years ago

    I suspect that you would been satissfied if “Levik” was invited instead !!!!!!

    Reply
  7. Harout says:
    13 years ago

    I wonder what’s his personal interest??

    Reply
  8. Harout says:
    13 years ago

    I think he’s trying to develop mob connection

    Reply
  9. Levon says:
    13 years ago

    I did.  I’d rather have Kocharian over Serzhik or Levonik any day.

    Reply
  10. hrair says:
    13 years ago

    Why is he representing RoA????

    Reply
  11. Monte says:
    13 years ago

    In what capacity a former president pays a visit to a foreign country and has a meeting with none other than the acting president of that country? What’s going on? Who gave him the authority to conduct state bilateral meetings? Isn’t wealth that he got during his years as president by robbing his own people enough for him to retire in his native Karabakh?

    Reply

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