YEREVAN. March 4 (Interfax-AVN) - Iran opposes the presence of non-regional military units in neighboring countries, Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shakhmani said in Yerevan on Monday in response to a question asked by a journalist on the possibility of U.S. units staying in Georgia.
Cooperation between regional forces alone must contribute to regional stability, Shamkhani said. Iran has decided to supplement its economic, cultural and political ties with Armenia with military links, he said.
Shamkhani arrived in Armenia on Monday for a two-day visit, the press service of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told Interfax. Later in the day, he will meet with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan. Shamkhani's meeting with Kocharyan is scheduled for Tuesday. He will give a news conference in Yerevan in the evening.