Armenia and Iran discuss defense cooperation
YEREVAN, March 7. /ARKA/. During a visit to Tehran Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan discussed Wednesday with Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Ashtiani the current progress and prospects of defense cooperation, the Armenian Defense Ministry's press service reported.
The ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues and reaffirmed their positions on the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
Strengthening relations with all neighbors is one of the principles of Iran's foreign policy, Ashtiani said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.
He added that Iran attaches great importance to relations with Armenia. Since Armenia's independence, relations between the two countries have always been on the rise in various fields, he added.
The Iranian minister expressed Iran's support for regional peace and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran's resolute position is to support the territorial integrity of the regional countries and their right to sovereignty over their entire territories and not to change the internationally recognized borders."
He also emphasized that with regard to the Caucasus region, Iran will remain faithful to this policy and will support direct negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.. -0-