Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami held meetings with top officials and Foreign Ministers from Turkey, Armenia and Yugoslavia.
The Tehran Times reported that Khatami and Armenian President Robert Kocharian agreed on cooperation necessary between Iran and Armenia in order to secure mutual interests of peace throughout the region.
Khatami expressed the need for the two to cooperate and further develop relations in order to preserve stability. The Iranian President said Armenia is a country that has good relations with Iran ever since Armenia gained independence.
In reply, Kocharian said it was an honor for him to visit Tehran and that Armenia intends to develop further relations with Iran, especially on the economic level.
The Armenian President was accompanied by a delegation made up of Armenian Ministers of Communications, Education, Culture, Foreign Affairs, Ecology and Economy. He also paid tribute to the late Imam Khomeini, as he led the Armenian delegation in laying wreaths at the mausoleum dedicated to the Founder of the Islamic Revolution. During his visit, Kocharian plans to meet with various Iranian officials in order to sign a number of memoranda of understanding on energy, transportation, culture, the environment, dam construction, and customs affairs.
On Tuesday, Yugoslav Foreign Minister, Goran Svlianovic met with President Khatami as well. Khatami stated that the two countries had important roles to play, due to the sensitive locations of the two countries. He also expressed hope that the Svlianovic’s visit to Iran would be a new chapter in the ties between Iran and Yugoslavia. He added that the two countries could cooperate in several fields, including science, culture and economic affairs. Svlianovic replied that his country wishes to have closer ties with Iran as well.
In a meeting between Turkish State Minister for Customs Affairs, Mohammed Kace Ciller and President Khatami, the two discussed the cultural and religious interests of Iran and Turkey and called for developing ties between the two countries. Following the inauguration of the Iran-Turkey gas pipeline, Khatami said that Iran welcomed steps, especially by the private sector, to enhance the two neighbors' relations.
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
