Tehran: Armenian FM Meets Iranian President

ARMENIAN FM MEETS IRANIAN PRESIDENT

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Dec 18 2006

Visiting Armenian Foriegn Minister Vartan Oskonian and Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met here Sunday and discussed latest
developments in bilateral and regional affairs.

In the meeting, President Ahmadinejad told Armenian Foreign Minister
Oskonian that he believed friendly relations with neighboring countries
can contribute to peace and security in the region from which regional
states can benefit.

According to the Media Department of the President’s Office,
Ahmadinejad further referred to the two countries’ increasing
relations and said all available resources should be exploited to
realize the potential.

He also underlined implementation of agreements already reached between
Iranian and Armenian officials, referring in particular to the pipeline
to transfer energy between the two countries dubbed the "Pipeline
for Peace, Friendship and Development," which is nearing completion.

Vartan Oskonian, for his part, said that exchange visits by the two
countries’ officials have had a positive effect on relations.

Underscoring the importance his country attaches to strengthening
of mutual ties, he said completion of the Iran-Armenia gas line is
vital for Armenia’s energy supply.