Iran says ready to cooperate with Syria 'in all areas'November 8, 2017 - 13:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran is ready to engage with Syria in all areas, including scientific and academic sectors, said Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader in international affairs, IRNA reports. "Iran's support to Syria is not restricted to just defense issues and Tehran can help Damascus in scientific areas as well, while it can help Syria in the reconstruction process," Velayati said during a meeting Tuesday, November 7 evening in Syria with Mustafa Afioni Chancellor of the Aleppo University. Iran ranks first in the region in production of scientific articles, proving the country's scientific and technological advancements, said Velayati, who is chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamic Azad University in Iran. Promotion of scientific relations shows establishment of real security in the region, he said. The Iranian senior official also called for strengthening of ties between Iran and Syria in all areas, including politics, economy, defense, science and culture. "Iran will stay beside Syria to help the country defend its territorial integrity," Velayati stressed. For his part, the chancellor of the Syrian university in Aleppo, the country's largest city and its industrial and financial centre, said that the university was never shut down for a single day during the past seven years of conflicts. Afioni also called for cooperation between the Aleppo University and the Islamic Azad University in Iran. Velayati and Afioni at the end of their meeting signed a memorandum of understanding to pave the way for engagement of the two universities. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |