TEHRAN (Combined Sources)–Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke by phone to his Armenian counterpart during his recent visit to Ankara, hailing positive developmen’s between Ankara and Yerevan.
Iranian news agency IRNA said Iran, as a powerful and stable country in the region, can bring about reconciliation between estranged neighbors Turkey and Armenia. Mottaki visited Ankara on Friday, where discussion focused primarily on a dispute over his country’s contentious nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at producing nuclear weapons but Iran insists is for energy generation alone.
The report of the telephone conversation between Mottaki and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian indicates that a series of positive developmen’s between Turkey and Armenia may also be on the agenda. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan confirmed during a press conference with Mottaki on Friday that there have been talks between Foreign Ministry officials and Armenian representatives aimed at the normalization of relations.
In his phone conversation with Nalbandian, Mottaki expressed hope that positive developmen’s in Armenia-Turkey relations would help strengthen regional peace and friendship, according to the IRNA.
The two foreign ministers called for further expansion of Tehran-Yerevan relations in all areas. Welcoming Iran’s constructive cooperation, the Armenian foreign minister expressed his satisfaction with the growing trend of bilateral cooperation. He also stressed his appreciation for the efforts Iran has made to strengthen relations among regional states.