Iran, Armenia Have Common Stand On Int’l Issues

Yerevan, Dec 24, IRNA – Iran and Armenia have common stand on various regional and international issues, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday. He made the remarks in a speech at the Armenian Parliament on Friday. “Tehran and Yerevan have similar stand on various issues including the establishment of peace and justice in the world,” Iranian president added. Ahmadinejad declared his support for expansion of parliamentarian relations between Tehran and Yerevan. Pointing to the presence and martyrdom of Armenian-Iranian citizens in Iraq imposed war against Tehran; he added that “Islamic Republic of Iran is grateful of Armenian minorities.” Armenian Parliament Speaker Samvel Nikoyan for his part emphasized the importance of development of relations between Tehran and Yerevan. “Increase of parliamentarian relations between Tehran and Yerevan can facilitate promotion of relations of the two sides,” he said. Armenia parliament speaker thanked Islamic Republic respect for Armenian minority in Iran, adding that good living of Armenian minorities in Iran is a good example of peaceful co-existence of different ethnic groups in a country. President Ahmadinejad also in his meeting with Armenia Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan underlined that “Tehran and Yerevan have good ancient, cultural relations and the two side relations in the past decades have been always constructive.' Armenian prime minister for his part, called for development of relations between the two countries, adding that Iran is an important regional power. Visiting Iranian president had also a meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and discussed major topics concerning bilateral, regional, and international issues. Ahmadinejad and Sargsyan emphasized, in a joint statement published on Friday, on the right of all nations to use peaceful nuclear energy. The statement stressed that all nations should respect Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the international rules and regulations on prohibition of spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Iran and Armenia singed five letters of understanding during the official visit of Iranian delegation led by President Ahmadinejad to Yerevan on Friday. Tehran and Yerevan MoUs cover various fields of cooperation including the construction of hydroelectric power plants on Aras dam, cooperation between the Institute for Standards and Industrial Research of Iran and the Armenian National Institute for Standards as well as cooperation in the fields of social welfare, employment and environment protection. President Ahmadinejad and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Friday held first round of talks on major topics concerning bilateral, regional, and international issues. President Ahmadinejad’s visit to Armenia takes place upon an invitation by Armenian President Sargsyan and in line with expansion of bilateral ties between two countries. Supply of oil products to Armenia and construction of railways are among main topics of discussion during President Ahmadinejad’s one-day visit to Yerevan. Trade stood at dlrs 270 million in 2010 between the two countries. The figure rose up to dlrs 300 million in 2011. Over the past 20 years, energy sector has played an important role in Iran-Armenia trade relations. Relations between Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran remain extremely cordial and both Armenia and Iran are strategic partners in the region. Armenia and Iran enjoy cultural and historical ties that go back thousands of years. There are no border disputes between the two countries and the Christian Armenian minority in Iran enjoys official recognition. In July, 2007, a memorandum was signed on the start of feasibility studies on the ideas of building an Armenian-Iranian railway and a Russian-owned oil refinery that would process Iranian crude. The Armenian government is building a second, bigger highway leading to the Iranian border in the hope of boosting trade with Iran. The two countries have reached a preliminary agreement to make joint TV serials. The joint venture would portray the social and cultural life of Iran and Armenia and expand cinematic ties between the two countries./end