On January 5, 2008 RA Defense Minister Michael Harutyunyan received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Seid Ali Saghaian and Military Attaché, Colonel Bizhan Hamzeil Hashame.

At the beginning of the meeting Minister Harutyunyan congratulated the Ambassador, expressing hope that the bilateral cooperation will further expand during his term in office and wished him success in carrying out his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

The Ambassador conveyed to Michael Harutyunyan the congratulating message of the Iranian Minister of Defense. Turning to the current state of military cooperation within the framework of bilateral cooperation, the parties stressed the necessity to deepen the existing ties. The parties expressed hope that the atmosphere of trust formed in the course of years will continue serving as a basis for further cooperation for the sake of peaceful co-existence of the two friendly peoples. At the end of the meeting the parties exchanged views on regional security and stability. The interlocutors emphasized the importance of peaceful; resolution of the Karabakh conflict.