President Views Armenia Visit as Positive

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voiced pleasure with the achievements of his daylong tour of Armenia, saying that he and Kocharian have held desirable agreements in different grounds. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Tuesday, the president described the two countries’ relations as developing, and said that during the trip, the two sides have reviewed joint cooperation and previous agreements and exchanged views about regional and global issues.

“During the meeting with the Armenian president, we held good agreements in consulate, banking and economic grounds,” he said.

Ahmadinejad noted the two sides’ joint statement, and underlined the resolve of both countries to further bolster cooperation.

He also voiced pleasure in his meetings with the Armenian parliament speaker, foreign minister, energy minister and head of Iran-Armenia joint cooperation commission and the chairman of Iran-Armenia parliamentary friendship group, saying that he has discussed establishment of consulate general, joint ventures, banking cooperation and boosting of energy swap during his talks with Armenian officials.

The president also said that Tehran and Yerevan hold identical views about security, peace, stability and détente in the region, and continued, “The two countries share the belief that regional conflicts should be resolved through talks.”

He also said that during his meeting with Robert Kocharian, the two leaders have voiced concern about the Palestinian issue, and stressed the necessity of assistance to the establishment of peace and stability, particularly in Iraq and Palestine.

According to Ahmadinejad, both sides have also reiterated the importance of the follow-up to strategic projects of the two countries.

“Both countries also agreed on the construction of a power plant and dam on Aras River on the borders of the two countries,” he said.

The president viewed the visit to Armenia as positive, and expressed the hope that Tehran and Yerevan would witness increasing development of relations.