TEHRAN (Armenpress–IRNA)–Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian continued his visit to Iran Tuesday–meeting with Iranian president Mohammed Khatemi and Iranian parliament speaker Ali-Reza Nateq Nouri.
Oskanian led a delegation to the presidential palace where he was greeted by president Khatemi.
The two discussed ways to expand cooperation between Iran and Armenia–praising one another for the commitment to maintain and further friendly relations.
Oskanian conveyed greetings from Armenian president Robert Kocharian–while Khatemi expressed hope to meet with the Armenian leader in the near future to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Oskanian stressed the important role Iran plays in regional issues and articulated Armenia’s position on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Armenian foreign minister also stated that by placing preconditions on peace talks–Azerbaijan hindered and paralyzed the peace process.
Oskanian also met with parliament–Mejlis–speaker Nateq Nouri–who discussed furthering ties and cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries.
Nateq Nouri expressed his support to expanding relations between the countries and praised efforts by the foreign ministries of Iran and Armenia in efforts to further cooperation.
He pledged his parliament’s support to promote regular relations between the two countries.
Representatives of the Iranian-Armenian community in the Mejlis were also present at the meeting.
During a meeting in Tehran Monday–the foreign ministers of Iran and Armenia’studied ways to develop bilateral cooperation–involving regional and international issues.
Kamal Kharrazi of Iran and Oskanian emphasized the readiness of Tehran and Yerevan to enhance the level of multi-faceted relations and underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation for peace and stability in the region.
Oskanian said Yerevan would spare no effort to develop relations with the Islamic republic of Iran.
He said that Armenia is willing to promote cooperation with Iran in economic areas and called for Iran’s partnership in carrying out joint economic projects in the region including road and railway construction–gas piping–and the building of dams and tunnels.
Oskanian said the volume of trade exchange could be raised thanks to the great potential for bilateral cooperation. Oskanian also called for adoption of free trade regulations between the two countries.
Kharrazi said that the two countries have made agreemen’s to carry out several development projects including the setting up of power plants–dam building–the development of the railway and pharmaceutical industries–and gas piping.. Kharrazi stressed the need for the speedy implementation of these projects.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the tripartite cooperation between Iran–Armenia and Greece as well as tripartite cooperation between Iran–Armenia and Georgia.
Oskanian also visited the Armenian Prelacy in Tehran Monday evening.
Chairman of the prelacy in Tehran Levon Tavtyan greeted Oskanian in the prelacy hall.
Afterwards–Archbishop Artak Manoukian discussed the religious and daily lives of Iranian-Armenia’s–especially emphasizing the Tehran community–stressing the cultural and educational aspects of their lives.
Outlining the importance of the relationship between the Diaspora and Armenia–Archbishop Manoukian expressed the Iranian-Armenia’s’ willingness to assist in expanding ties between Armenia and Iran.
After the Archbishop’s address–the foreign minister spoke of the reasons for his visit to Tehran–noting that both sides praised the relations between the two countries–but that there is room for improvement. "The two countries have shared strong historic roots–which continue to form a strong foundation for future diplomatic ties," said Oskanian.
After his speech–Oskanian addressed the audience’s question–which mainly focused on Armenia’s foreign policies.