ID :
145481
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 14:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/145481
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Iran determined to expand ties with Armenia
YEREVAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) -- Iran is determined to expand its comprehensive cooperation with Armenia, Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani told Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian during a meeting in Yerevan on Saturday.
Iran and Armenia enjoy great potential, which must be utilized for the benefit of the two countries, Larijani stated.
Commenting on regional issues, the Iranian parliament speaker noted that some countries are attempting to destabilize the region and all regional countries must stand against these malicious measures.
Nalbandian said Larijani’s visit to Armenia will lay the groundwork for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
Larijani also held talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan on the latest regional developments as well as issues of mutual interest.
Iran, Armenia must implement joint economic projects
Iranian and Armenian parliamentary delegations also held a meeting on Friday.
In the meeting, Larijani stated that the two countries’ most important joint economic projects, namely the construction of railways and oil pipelines, need to be implemented.
On the latest developments, he noted that certain countries are seeking to sell arms to regional states in order to foment unrest in the region.
Commenting on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Larijani said that although Turkey and Brazil entered into nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic on the request of U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. did not welcome the Tehran Declaration.
On May 17, the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration, according to which Iran would ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan thanked Iran for its stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian forces took control of the region during a war in the early 1990s.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is mainly populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan, and Turkey has sided with Azerbaijan in the dispute.
Iran had earlier extended an offer to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the dispute.
In April 2010, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki presented a proposal for a trilateral meeting with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to attempt to resolve the dispute.
Last month, Mottaki said the proposal is still on the table.
Terrorism is haram in Islam
Larijani also gave an address to a gathering of officials, instructors, and students at Yerevan State University on Saturday.
In Islam, terrorism is haram, which means religiously prohibited, the Iranian parliament speaker told the people gathered at the Armenian university.
Today, certain countries’ alleged support for the campaign against terrorism is just a pose, but “in our opinion, fighting terrorism is a necessity for a peaceful life,” Larijani stated.
He added that during the first years of the Islamic Revolution, the hegemonistic powers, through their agents, assassinated the Iranian president, prime minister, and a number of other officials, and now the United States and the Zionist regime are pursuing the same goal in the region.
Region in need of an integration theory
Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani emphasized the need for the development of a regional integration theory.
The U.S. is seeking to reap its own interests in the Caucasus region but is not able to resolve the region’s issues, so regional states must work together and resolve their own problems through regional integration, he stated.
With its enormous budget deficits and trillions of dollars of debt, the United States cannot solve its own problems, let alone the region’s, Larijani observed.
He also noted that the current international situation is undergoing a great upheaval and the day may come when the “unilateralism chorus” chanted by the U.S. comes to an end.
Larijani left Tehran on Friday for a two-nation tour of Armenia and Kazakhstan.
He headed to Kazakhstan early on Sunday.
Iran and Armenia enjoy great potential, which must be utilized for the benefit of the two countries, Larijani stated.
Commenting on regional issues, the Iranian parliament speaker noted that some countries are attempting to destabilize the region and all regional countries must stand against these malicious measures.
Nalbandian said Larijani’s visit to Armenia will lay the groundwork for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
Larijani also held talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan on the latest regional developments as well as issues of mutual interest.
Iran, Armenia must implement joint economic projects
Iranian and Armenian parliamentary delegations also held a meeting on Friday.
In the meeting, Larijani stated that the two countries’ most important joint economic projects, namely the construction of railways and oil pipelines, need to be implemented.
On the latest developments, he noted that certain countries are seeking to sell arms to regional states in order to foment unrest in the region.
Commenting on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Larijani said that although Turkey and Brazil entered into nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic on the request of U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. did not welcome the Tehran Declaration.
On May 17, the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration, according to which Iran would ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan thanked Iran for its stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which has dragged on since ethnic Armenian forces took control of the region during a war in the early 1990s.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is mainly populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan, and Turkey has sided with Azerbaijan in the dispute.
Iran had earlier extended an offer to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the dispute.
In April 2010, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki presented a proposal for a trilateral meeting with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to attempt to resolve the dispute.
Last month, Mottaki said the proposal is still on the table.
Terrorism is haram in Islam
Larijani also gave an address to a gathering of officials, instructors, and students at Yerevan State University on Saturday.
In Islam, terrorism is haram, which means religiously prohibited, the Iranian parliament speaker told the people gathered at the Armenian university.
Today, certain countries’ alleged support for the campaign against terrorism is just a pose, but “in our opinion, fighting terrorism is a necessity for a peaceful life,” Larijani stated.
He added that during the first years of the Islamic Revolution, the hegemonistic powers, through their agents, assassinated the Iranian president, prime minister, and a number of other officials, and now the United States and the Zionist regime are pursuing the same goal in the region.
Region in need of an integration theory
Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani emphasized the need for the development of a regional integration theory.
The U.S. is seeking to reap its own interests in the Caucasus region but is not able to resolve the region’s issues, so regional states must work together and resolve their own problems through regional integration, he stated.
With its enormous budget deficits and trillions of dollars of debt, the United States cannot solve its own problems, let alone the region’s, Larijani observed.
He also noted that the current international situation is undergoing a great upheaval and the day may come when the “unilateralism chorus” chanted by the U.S. comes to an end.
Larijani left Tehran on Friday for a two-nation tour of Armenia and Kazakhstan.
He headed to Kazakhstan early on Sunday.
