"Iran's stand on the events of early 20th century in the Ottoman Empire bases on two principles," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a meeting with students and teaching staff of Yerevan State University.

"The first principle is that each nation should remember its history but face the future and this must not lead to repetition of the past. Second, Iran will always be by Armenia's side," he said.

Mr Ahmadinejad added that every year the Armenian community in Iran commemorates the events.

He said Iran condemns infringement of human rights but did not use the term 'genocide'.