TEHRAN Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is due to arrive here on August 24 on an official visit to Iran, Armenian Charge de'Affaires Grigor Arakelian told the TEHRAN TIMES on Tuesday. Oskanian, heading a high-ranking political delegation, will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and discuss with him the issues of mutual interests and latest regional developments. Arakelian said the nine member delegation during its one-day visit to Tehran will also meet other Iranian officials and discuss with them measures for further strengthening mutual ties between the two sides.

Iran and Armenia have signed several memorandums of understanding before and the foreign ministers of the two countries will discuss ways and means to materialize them, he added. Arakelian further said that at present the bilateral trade between Iran and Armenia stands at $200 million annually but there is more room for the two countries to increase the current volume. Iran can transfer its oil and gas technology to Armenia in return for agricultural expertise in which Armenia has made great strides, Armenian charge de'affaires said.

Referring to the kidnapping of Iranian diplomats by Taleban fundamentalists, Arakelian said Armenia condemns any kind of kidnapping anywhere in the world. He said the government of Armenia is studying the situation in Afghanistan closely and that it will denounce the illegal action taken by Taleban formally through a statement soon.