Mohammad Zarif: Armenia's territorial integrity is red line for Iran

YEREVAN, January 27. /ARKA/. The territorial integrity of all countries is important to Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian in Yerevan today.

“Iran attaches importance to the territorial integrity of all countries, respects and ensures that the religions and rights of all peoples are always protected. Our red line is the territorial integrity of Armenia, and we clearly spoke about this,” he said.

Noting that Iran suffered serious damage as a result of the conflict, Zarif said that his country has seen wars and is familiar with the pain and suffering that people suffer during the war.

“Iran is ready to provide any humanitarian assistance to overcome the suffering of people. We are ready to further develop our relations with Armenia in politics, economy, culture and security,” he said.

Zarif noted that Iran and Armenia have many common reasons for concern, pointing out the presence of terrorists and foreign fighters.

He also stated his country's readiness to cooperate with Armenia in bilateral and multilateral formats, including with the countries of the Caucasus region, to develop cooperation in the economic sphere to improve the welfare of people.

“We hope that this cooperation in the region will be formed taking into account respect for the rights of peoples and on the principle of non-use of force,” Zarif added.

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and  phosphorus weapons. 

After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the parties stopped at where they were at that time. The town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia. 

A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged. -0-

 

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14:46 01/27/2021