Javad Zarif: Bilateral cooperation with Armenia is of high importance for Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has told his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian the bilateral cooperation with Armenia is of high importance for Iran. The two ministers met on June 5, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry press-office.

Mohammad Javad Zarif and Edward Nalbandian said high-level meetings create good opportunities for bilateral and regional cooperation.

The sides discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral agenda and reaffirmed their commitment to consistent efforts towards implementation of joint projects.
In particular, the two ministers dwelled upon issues of cooperation in trade-economic, energy, transport, agricultural, health, educational, cultural, environmental, and tourist sectors, came out for promotion of business contacts and participation in international economic exhibitions.  

The ministers made a point of the signing of visa-free visits by Iranians and Armenians to two countries, which they believed would greatly help trade and tourism in both sides of the border.  Nalbandian and Zarif discussed the implementation of the arrangements made at the 13th intergovernmental meeting and the preparations for the 14th meetings scheduled for autumn in Tehran. 

The two ministers exchanged views concerning the establishment of cooperation between the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Iran, as well as discussed the situation in the Middle East and the international fight against terrorism. Nalbandian and Zarif discussed the implementation of the agreements on the Iranian nuclear program and the new opportunity of cooperation emerging in the field.  In this light, Nalbandian praised the Iranian nuclear deal saying that even the most complicated problems can be settled if there is political will for it.  Edward Nalbandian presented the efforts towards overcoming the aftermaths of the April aggression by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh.  He stressed the importance of implementing the Vienna arrangement.  Nalbandian prasied Iran's weighted stance on the Karabakh peace process.
Nalbandian and Zarif signed a memorandum of visa liberalization.

To recall, on June 2 Armenian government adopted agreement on cancellation of visa regime between Yerevan and Tehran. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated at the government's session that the establishment of visa free regime is determined by the mutual intention of the sides to contribute to further development of relations between the two states, strengthening of mutually beneficial economic, trade tourism and other relations. According to the document citizens of Iran and Armenia may stay 90 days within a 180-day period in the other country.  By the government's another decree the agreement on facilitating visa regime between Armenia and Swiss Confederation was also adopted, the aim of which is to ease procedure of providing visa to Armenian citizens who want to stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days within a 180 -day period for certain purposes.