Iran, Armenia discuss ties, regional crises
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday urged closer cooperation with neighboring countries, Armenia in particular, to address crises and conflicts in the region.
Iran and Armenia can develop close cooperation to address the conflicts and crises that have engulfed the region, Rouhani said in a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan in Tehran on Tuesday, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Touching on the “worrying situation” in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, the president said settlement of those conflicts would serve the interests of the entire region.
“Wars and escalation of regional discord are not in the interests of any country, and all regional governments should push for the establishment of sustainable peace and calm,” Rouhani added.
He further stressed the need for the expansion of political and economic relations between Tehran and Yerevan.
Voicing Iran’s readiness to provide Armenia with technical and engineering services, President Rouhani said his administration would encourage the private sector to invest in various fields in Armenia, such as road, housing, dam and power plant construction.
Karapetyan hailed Iran’s “balanced stances” on regional issues, saying they contribute to peace and stability.
Expressing his country’s willingness to broaden ties with Iran, the Armenian premier said the two neighbors could boost economic relations by tapping into free trade zones in the border areas.
In a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday, Karapetyan unveiled Armenia’s plans to create a free trade zone near its common border with Iran that would involve European and Eurasian investors.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Karapetyan started his official visit to Iran on Monday at the invitation of Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri.
On Monday, Iran and Armenia inked three memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the areas of veterinary medicine and livestock health, bilateral exchange in the area of art and culture, and science and technology.