Yerevan, September 06, ArmenPress - Mohammad Khatami, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, will pay a two-day state visit to Armenia on September 8. The newly appointed Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Alireza Haqiqian, told today reporters that this is a response visit to Armenian president Robert Kocharian trip to Tehran in 2001. "The September 8 visit is actually going to be an important event in relations of the two countries and will recap all previous developments in bilateral relations. The visit of president Mohamad Khatami is an evidence that the two countries are determined to take forward their relations," the ambassador mentioned. He recalled words by Khatami during Kocharian's visit that "Armenia is a good neighbor of Iran." "By confirming these words of Khatami, I would like to add that Armenia has been and will be a good neighbor of Iran," the ambassador noted.

The Iranian president will be accompanied by the ministers of foreign affairs, economy and finance, and trade ministers. According to the ambassador, the entire diversity of bilateral relations will be discussed in the course of the meeting and the sides will sign documents on energy, transport, customs cooperation, trade and culture sectors. On the sidelines of the visit the 5-th sitting of a joint inter-governmental commission will take place. The presidents of the two countries as well as other highly- ranking officials will exchange ideas of regional and international significance. Concurrently, the transport ministers of the two countries will participate in the opening of a transport terminal on the cross border, in the vicinity of Iranian Norduz settlement.

Responding to a question about an Iranian credit to Armenia for building the Iran-Armenian gas pipeline, ambassador Haqiqian mentioned that the issue is in the phase of discussion and voiced his hope that the final agreement will be reached during the president's visit.

Speaking on Iran-Armenia bilateral political ties, the ambassador mentioned that they are on a good level in all spheres. "Concurrently, we think that there are still many possibilities to even more deepen and develop bilateral relations. We think that we can uncover the unused potential, bring it to life and focus on the implementation of all our fundamental plans," he stated. "I am sure that Khatami's visit will open a new page in bilateral relation and will be beneficial to the people of both countries. I pin hopes that the growth and development of relations between the two countries will go on," the ambassador said.