IRNA, Iran
December 11, 2004 Saturday 2:03 PM EST
Iranian diplomat: Karabakh crisis should be settled
Tehran
Iran`s ambassador to Armenia, Alireza Haqiqian reiterated the need to
settle the Karabakh crisis through peaceful ways and continuous
negotiations between Azeris and Armenians, it was announced here
Saturday.
Speaking in an interview with a Yerevan-based weekly about Iran`s
approach towards the issue of Karabakh, he said that his country`s
attitude with regard to the regional developments is clear and based
on cooperation, establishment of balance and understanding.
He declared Iran`s constant readiness for rendering any assistance to
the effect.
Stressing that Iran`s foreign policy and major principles on the
developments in the region and neighboring countries has not changed,
he noted, “Iran`s bilateral relations with foreign countries, in
particular its neighbors, is based on mutual respect and
non-interference in their domestic affairs.”
Expressing satisfaction with the current level of Iran-Armenia
relations and its growing trend, he said that the visits of Armenia`s
President Robert Kocharian to Tehran and President Mohammad Khatami`s
this year`s trip to Yerevan played a crucial role in further
strengthening mutual ties.
“The bilateral ties, whose cornerstone has been laid upon the
historical commonalties between the two nations, can pave the way for
promotion of sustainable peace and security in Caucasus.
“Expansion of relations in political, economic and cultural fields as
well as exchanges between the two nations is currently on Iran`s
agenda to this end,” he added.
He referred to some of the projects on the agenda including the
meetings of the joint economic commission, active participation of
Iranian tradesmen in Armenia`s market, the activities of Iranian
economic institutions there and cooperation in the energy sector.
In response to a question whether Moscow-Baku-Tehran railway will
replace Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan route, he said that given Iran`s decisive
role in the regional transit system, the interest of the countries of
the region in cooperation with Iran is quite natural.
He added that according to a number of specialists, the Baku-Ceyhan
railway project is a political scheme, not economical.
Turning to Iran-Armenia gas pipeline as a significant index in the
mutual relations, he noted that its construction will respond to
Armenia`s demands and have a positive impact on the regional economy.
Concerning gas transit, Haqiqian said, “Expansion of inter-state
collaboration in various fields including energy can lead to closer
understanding between them.