Iran FM off to Yerevan to attend Armenian president's inauguration ceremony

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi left Tehran for Yerevan on Monday to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Serzh Sargsian and also discuss the latest bilateral and regional developments with Armenian officials.On 14 March 2013, Armenia's Constitutional Court confirmed the victory of President Sargsian who won the presidential election on February 18.The Iranian foreign minister, heading a high-ranking delegation, departed for the Armenian capital on Monday afternoon.Salehi is slated to hold talks with Armenian officials on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony to be held for President Sargsian in Yerevan.Earlier this year, President Sargsian appreciated Tehran for its effective mutual cooperation with Yerevan, and underlined his country's enthusiasm for the further expansion of ties with Iran.Sargsian appreciated Tehran for its effective bilateral cooperation with Yerevan during the past years.He said that his country "attaches great importance to expansion of relations with Iran" despite efforts made by the US-led western states to reduce Tehran-Yerevan ties.Addressing people in the Armenian city of Meghri, President Sargsian said "Armenia will continue efforts" to promote bilateral cooperation with Iran.In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have signed agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to cooperate in technology and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Sargsian pledged in December 2011 to further expand "high-level relations" between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus to the implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen behind schedule.