On September 17, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs who is in Tehran was received by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Minister Nalbandian conveyed the Iranian President the message and wishes of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

Expressing gratitude for the message, President Ahmadinejad asked to convey his warm greetings and wishes to President Serzh Sargsyan and to the Armenian people. Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, characterizing the Armenian-Iranian relations as historical and ancient, mentioned that Iran is interested in further strengthening of the relations with friendly Armenia.

The President of Iran and the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed satisfaction with the developing cooperation between the two countries, underlining the intensified reciprocal visits, high-level political dialogue and economic and cultural ties. They stressed the mutual readiness of further developing the mutually beneficial relations.

During the meeting the implementation of joint economic projects was discussed.

Negotiations between the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi were also held in the capital of Iran.

Welcoming the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran congratulated Mr. Edward Nalbandian on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia and noted that the good relations, formed between the two neighboring countries during history, are getting stronger on a daily basis.

Mr. Edward Nalbandian, thanking for the warm reception, underlined that the agreements reached on the high-level and the signed documents would give a new impulse to the cooperation between the two friendly countries.

By the description of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, there are no problems between Armenia and Iran, if they are technical issues, then they are solved through common efforts.

In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed agenda issues of bilateral relations- the joint implementing and planned projects on political, economic and cultural cooperation, particularly in the spheres of energy and transport.

The Ministers stressed the importance of holding of the regular consultations between the MFAs and expanding of legal framework.
The interlocutors reaffirmed the willingness to develop bilateral relations based on mutual benefit, mentioning that the regularity of reciprocal visits on the high-level contributes to the further strengthening of the cooperation.

The Ministers touched upon the works of Armenian -Iranian intergovernmental commission which has an important role in elaborating and implementing of economic cooperation and joint projects.

In the context of joint cultural exchanges, holding of mutual cultural days was mentioned. The Ministers exchanged views on the ways to promote tourism.

The sides reached an agreement to organize events on the occasion of 20th Anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Iran to be celebrated next year.

The Ministers of Armenia and Iran touched upon the regional issues, as well. Minister Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia has always been for the consolidation of lasting peace and stability in the region, the solution of the problems exclusively through peaceful means- for the solution by negotiations and dialogue.

Upon the request of Mr. Ali Akbar Salehi, Mr. Edward Nalbandian presented the process of the negotiations over the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, underlining the balanced position of Iran in that issue.

Minister Nalbandian reaffirmed the invitation made to Mr. Ali Akbar Salehi to visit Yerevan.