Yerevan, September 09, ArmenPress - Armenian president Robert Kocharian and the visiting Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, who is heading a high-ranking delegation, discussed today a wide variety of issues on bilateral relations, the current level of their partnership and prospects for its enlargement, as well as the latest regional developments, noting that a deeper regional cooperation is able to pave the way for creation of a favorable climate for regulation of the regional conflicts.

The talk between the two presidents was followed by a plenary session of the joint inter-governmental economic cooperation commission. In the presence of the two presidents several agreements were signed envisioning mutual cooperation in the field of energy, constructing a wind farm in Armenia, procedure for customs agreement, financing the construction of a 40 kilometer Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.

Also an agreement on mutual cultural exchange in the 2004-2007 period and the protocol of the fifth Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Commission are among the agreements inked by the two countries. The two presidents signed an agreement on the basic principles of Iran-Armenia cooperation

Speaking to a joint news conference president Kocharian described the visit by his counterpart as "an event of a crucial significance." "We have discussed the entire range of bilateral relations," he said, adding that the signed documents were a clear indication of a very high level of partnership.

Kocharian said also that bilateral relations between the two nations are becoming richer and expand day after day. " I have informed president Khatami on the current pace of Nagorno Karabagh regulation and heard also his own approaches towards a variety of other issues," he said.

Khatami in turn said he was happy for a chance to visit Armenia and meet Kocharian. "Armenia is a country where an industrious and devoted people live that have contributed greatly to world culture development," he said commending the 200,000 strong Armenian communities in Iran for contributing to the country's progress and a significant role in the Islamic Revolution. "Armenia is Iran's geographic neighbor, and though our general policy is to establish good relations with all our neighbors, our relations with Armenia is of a special kind. Relations between Iranians and Armenians are a good example for all those who want to live side by side and respect one another," Khatami said.

In a reference to regional affairs he said the sensitive region that encompasses Iran and the Caucasus needs to have an ensured stability. "We deem our neighbors' security our own security and believe that science and education development can serve as a good stability guarantee," he said.