Armenia's support to India's bid for Security Council seat lauded

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) Appreciating Armenia's consistent support to India's pursuit of permanent membership in the expanded UN Security Council, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today said the bilateral cooperation of the two countries stretched to various fields, including fight against terrorism.

''Armenia is concerned with the growth of terrorism and has always extended its support and cooperation to India in the war against terror,'' Mr. Shekhawat remarked, while welcoming a parliamentary delegation from Armenia.

Led by Mr Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly of Armenia, the delegation called on the Vice-President, who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in the Parliament House this afternoon.

Mr. Shekhawat also thanked the visiting delegation for Armenia's support to India at various multilateral fora.

He said this visit would further strengthen the existing close and historic links between India and Armenia. He also appreciated the positive role played by Armenian community in India in enhancing the cultural richness of the country.

The Vice-President cherished the memories of his visit to Armenia last year and vividly recalled his meetings with its leaders.

''I was deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me,'' he said and fondly recalled the handing over of the symbolic key for the first tranche of tractors gifted to Armenia last year.

''The delivery of all 300 tractors is now complete,'' he said, hoping that the tractors would continue to reflect the special ties between the people of the two countries.

Mr. Shekhawat also opined that parliamentary exchanges were an important component of ''our bilateral relations and we are keen to develop our relations in this important area.'' Under the Focus-CIS programme, he said trade relations had been given priority. ''We need to focus on our economic and trade ties and we are convinced that economic relations between our two countries will grow to their fullest potential.'' Reiterating that scientific and technological cooperation had an important place in the bilateral relationship, he said the two countries could work meaningfully through joint research ventures in areas such as information technology, agriculture and medical sciences and defence technology.

UNI SKS YA BST1902