Wednesday, 8 September 2004
Today RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan has met with Seied Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who has arrived in Armenia on a two-day official visit.
By greeting the high-ranking guest and placing a special focus upon this visit in both economic and political respects, the Armenian Prime Minister noted that the existing multi-faceted cooperation between Armenia and Iran, apart from being advantageous for the two countries, is also beneficial for the region as a whole. Mr. A. Margaryan highly valued the well-balanced policy implemented by the neighboring Iran and the constructive role played by the latter in settling regional conflicts. According to the Prime Minister, today the Islamic Republic of Iran can be seen as a key factor in the maintenance of stability and peace in the region. By mentioning that bilateral economic ties fail to keep pace with the quick-growing political partnership, A. Margaryan pointed out to the necessity of upholding the existing positive trends towards expanding and developing economic cooperation. The Prime Minister stressed that the commercial and economic exchanges between the two countries contain elements of regional cooperation, which makes it possible for other countries of the region to be involved therein. RA Prime Minister said that the documents signed in the framework of the official visit of the Iranian President are the outcome of many years' diligent work and added that the ministries listed in the Protocol would be given relevant assignments in the days to come so as to proceed to their implementation without delay.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction of the fact that the agreement on the construction if Iran-Armenia gas pipeline had been signed, they discussed matters concerning eventual cooperation in the construction of the Kajaran tunnel, building of a HPP on Arax River and some other projects to be implemented in a number of fields.
Both sides have pointed out to the importance of the activities carried out by the commissions on economic cooperation and the Ambassadors in strengthening economic and political ties between Armenia and Iran.
The Iranian President and the Prime Minister of Armenia have also touched upon the political situation in the region by briefing each other on their respective views on current developments. It was mentioned that the positions of the two countries were quite similar. "Through joint efforts our two countries will succeed to open up an outlet to the North and activate bilateral and multilateral commercial and economic cooperation," President Mohammad Khatami noted and went on to express the hope that the experts of the two countries will be able to identify the best possible solutions to join up the North and the South. Upgraded motorways in Armenia and the Kajaran tunnel under construction may be an asset in this regard.
The Iranian President has also emphasized the necessity of increasing the level of foreign investment in Armenia by stressing that there are a good number of pre-requisites for it. He has evoked the recent progress made in his country towards attracting foreign investment. The President of Iran has stressed that development in individual countries and in the region, as a whole is only possible through regional peace, stability and security: therefore everything should be done to find peaceful solutions to the existing conflicts. "We see Armenia as a neighboring and friendly country and would like to make thereof an example for others," Mr. Mohammad Khatami stated in closing. He invited the Armenian Prime Minister to visit Iran at his convenience by noting that the said visit will go far towards strengthening the Armenian-Iranian good partnership ties.
Thanking the Iranian President for the invitation, Prime Minister A. Margaryan expressed confidence that in bolstering up the on-going high-level political dialog between Iran and Armenia, the visit of Mr. Khatami will be another milestone in the ever-developing relationship between the two States.
