05.02.2001, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. In a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said that piping Iranian gas to Armenia "would open a new chapter in Tehran-Yerevan relations and would be a factor of stability in the region".
The president expressed pleasure with the direct talks between the Armenian and Azeri presidents on the settlement of Karabakh issue and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to mediate between the two countries, IRNA reports.
He called for developing regional cooperation and said that all the regional states including Russian Federation are required to adopt an appropriate plan for progress and security of the region. Oskanian appreciated Iran's foreign policy in the region and said that Iran has contributed to regional stability. He briefed the president on the latest developments on the peace talks on Karabakh and hoped that Armenia and Azerbaijan would reach a settlement on Karabakh in the year 2001.
During his working visit Oskanian also met in Tehran Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, Security Council Secretary Hassan Rowhani and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. --0--