Azernews.Az

On the same day Ahmadinejad was expected to pay tribute to a complex commemorating the victims of the so-called "genocide of Armenians" as well as to address the country's parliament. Informal sources suggested that the Iranian leader's move was caused by unexpected developments at home.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said Ahmadinejad had suspended his visit due to the illness of Iran's clerical leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the Iranian president dismissed the statement. Ahmadinejad told local news agency IRNA upon return to Tehran that the Iranian delegation actually stayed in Armenia longer than the previously expected 22 hours.
Some commentators link Ahmadinejad's turning back early with his trying to avoid riling Turkey and Azerbaijan by visiting the site honoring the victims of the alleged "Armenian genocide".
Armenians say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in the early 20th century, a claim strongly denied by the Turkic states.
Addressing the Yerevan State University on Monday, Ahmadinejad said freedom should be an ideal sought after by all people, emphasizing that no country had the right to occupy another's territory and to restrict the rights and liberties of nations.
He said the "world was not ruled by pious people", which made it impossible to ensure that justice prevails and freedom reigns, to nurture humaneness and achieve scientific development.
"The powers enjoying hegemony in the world today are pursuing a policy of wrecking values. We are trying to re-establish those values," Ahmadinejad said.
Ahmadinejad was conferred a gold medal for his contribution to the development of Iranian-Armenian ties.
The Iranian president, who arrived in Armenia late on Monday, met with his counterpart Robert Kocharian.
Kocharian said a road that links the two countries through the Megri crossing will be commissioned on Friday.
"Overall, great attention is being paid in Armenia to its cooperation with Iran," he said.
Kocharian added that bilateral trade turnover currently stands at $200 million, with the figure expected to rise in the future.
The two leaders signed a joint communique in conclusion of Ahmadinejad's visit. The two countries' foreign ministries signed a protocol on establishing chief consulates. Documents on implementing joint economic projects were inked as well.