Roundup: Rouhani highlights closer relations with countries in region

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the current situation in the region necessitates closer relations among regional countries, particularly those of Iran with Central Asian and Caucasian states, Press TV reported on Saturday.

Rouhani noted the importance of Countries in Central Asia and Caucasus as they are "in the same region as Iran, are our neighbors," highlighting one of Iran's principles of foreign policy is "close ties with friends and neighbors."

Amicable relations will make regional states better prepared against crises, Rouhani said as he was home from his tour to Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

"Under the current circumstances in the region, the closer ties and the more consultations with friends...the better we can tackle problems," the Iranian president was quoted as saying.

During his trip, Iran signed a total of 15 cooperation agreements with the three countries in different areas, including visa regimes, banking, technical and engineering services, agriculture, transportation and security issues.

Iran and Armenia agreed to revoke their visa regimes, and plans were made toward the same end with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Rouhani said.

Iran and Armenia signed Wednesday five memorandums of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in tourism, museum, sports, emergencies and border security, official IRNA news agency reported.

Also, Iran and Kazakhstan signed five agreements for cooperation on Thursday aimed at expanding economic relations.

The agreements cover such areas as livestock quarantine, tourism, social welfare and cooperation between the central banks of the two countries to facilitate mutual business, Press TV reported.

And the two sides signed an agreement to establish a joint dual-modal transportation company that could lead to the creation of a new transport corridor connecting Iran's southern ports to the upper parts of Central Asia.

The agreement is meant to facilitate sea transportation in the Caspian Sea, cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan in ports and terminals issues, and connect Iran's southern ports to Kazakhstan as well as other Central Asian countries.

The last stop of the tour took Rouhani to Kyrgyzstan where the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism and extremism.

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and Rouhani said in a joint statement that the two countries strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and will not allow any attempt to equate terrorism with any nation, culture or religion.

Meanwhile, they expressed concern about the spread of terrorist and extremist groups like the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and others in the Middle East region, and condemned their inhuman crimes in Syria and Iraq.

The statement would intensified contacts of the two countries in fighting terrorism, extremism, organized crime, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

Other agreements include cooperation between Iran's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Kyrgyzstan's State Committee of Information Technologies and Communications, Tasnim news agency reported. Endit