Mahmoud Ahmadinejad`s speech during the meeting with RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived December 23 in Armenia for an official visit. The meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Iran at the RA President's residence was followed by extended negotiations after which a number of documents on development of bilateral cooperation have been signed.

"I am extremely happy to be in Armenia on the eve of New Year and Christmas holidays, and I have come to meet with my friends," President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at the extended meeting. "On this occasion I extend my sincere congratulations to the Government of Armenia and people. I hope the coming year will be progressive in all respects and will be a rich one for all the countries and its peoples, including Armenia. The relations between our two countries are on a very high level. Throughout the history we have always enjoyed good relations and today they are being maintained. Especially after Armenia's independence these relations have expanded and are being expanded from day to day. Besides, having good-neighborly relations we are also the bearers of the same culture. Justice, humanity, friendship are the values existing between our peoples. The two parties are willing to expand friendship and are concerned with the interference of foreign forces into the region. Luckily, today there are no negative or impeding obstacles for the development of relations," Ahmadinejad said.

He said discussions on different projects took place connected with the Arax hydro power plant, electricity exchange program. "We have also studied the opportunities of developing trade-economic relations," he said.

The Iranian president also noted that during the talks they have also referred to a number of regional issues. "Luckily, our viewpoints connected with the regional issues are very close," he said.

The leader of Iran also informed that an arrangement has been reached to organize meetings between the corresponding officials of the two countries for the implementation of joint programs. He also thanked his Armenian counterpart for the friendly and warm reception.