Serzh Sargsyan accepts Hassan Rouhani’s invitation to visit Iran in 2017
Speaking Wednesday for journalists after his meeting with the Iranian president, Sargsyan said that it was a great honor to host in Armenia Doctor Hassan Rouhani.
”It would be impossible to explicate the entire depth and scope of the Armenian-Iranian relations describing them as solely friendly,” he said. “There are only few nations who were destined for millennia to walk down the crossroads of history side by side and today too continue to work closely together, holding in high esteem each other’s cultures.”
Armenia and Iran, he said, are interested ‘to further strengthen and develop friendly relations anchored in the traditionally rich ties’.
“It is testified to by the high level of our relations with Iran after Armenia’s independence, joint programs, dynamic reciprocal visits and, of course, the present visit of my esteem colleague, His Excellency Mr. Hassan Rouhani to our country,” Sargsyan is quoted in the press release as saying at a news conference.
“There is no doubt that the documents to be signed today and agreements which we have reached will give a new impetus and elevate the Armenian-Iranian cooperation to a qualitatively new level.”
Sargsyan also said that today the two countries’ presidents have held comprehensive and substantial discussions on different issues of the bilateral agenda; we have reiterated our commitment to the joint implementation of the development programs, stressed the importance of holding regular political consultations, discussed issues related to the development of cooperation in the areas of trade and economy, energy, transport, agriculture, education, healthcare, culture, ecology and tourism, and enhancement of contacts between the business circles.
«I express deep gratitude to my colleague for the distinctly respectful and thoughtful attention of Iran towards the Armenian cultural heritage, as well as traditionally caring attitude towards the Armenian community of Iran.»
As a result of the agreement reached by the Republic of Armenia and Islamic Republic of Iran the swaps of natural gas and electrical energy between us continue.
«Taking into consideration the necessity to provide for the necessary volumes, which stems from the mentioned above swaps and quadripartite agreements reached in Yerevan, we have also spoken about the use of the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia energy corridor,» Sargsyan said.
In his words, the presidents also exchanged views on the program related to the establishment of a Persian Gulf-Black Sea transport and transit corridor, which will facilitate the transportation of international cargo, will provide the opportunity for the Iranian goods to enter the European market at the minimal transportation cost, as well as will allow to use it as a transit route for cargos from other countries. «This will be not only the shortest and the safest passage via Armenia for the Iranian vehicles but will also become a very serious impulse for the growth of the turnover between our countries,» he said.
«We have also exchanged views on the regional integration processes and stressed the importance of the opportunities for cooperation which are provided by Armenia’s membership to the Eurasia Economic Area.»
The Armenian president also voiced satisfaction at the fact that that today concurrently with the visit there will take place a large business forum in Yerevan.
«At the meeting, we have certainly discussed pressing regional and international issues,» he said. «We have exchanged views on the implementation of the historic agreements on Iran’s nuclear program. I am confident that they will open new horizons for the hardworking and creative people of Iran and will become a new stimulus for the invigoration of our bilateral as well as a wider regional cooperation.”
”We have discussed the situation in the Middle East, fight against terrorism and international efforts aimed at the resolution of the situation. With this regard, the resolution adopted two days ago by the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Aleppo is important. There is no doubt that Armenia is first of all concerned with the safety of the Armenian community in Syria, particularly in Aleppo.”
Sargsyan said that he has presented ‘to my distinguished colleague the efforts of Armenia and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at moving forward the process for finding a peaceful resolution for the Nagorno Karabakh problem, agreements reached at the summits in Vienna and Saint Petersburg and aimed at the elimination of the consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh in April’.
“We highly value Iran’s balanced position on the resolution of the NK problem through the exclusively peaceful means, based on international law. We have reiterated that the Nagorno Karabakh problem has no military solution and stressed the inadmissibility of any step meant to escalate the situation in the region and surge of instability.” --0---