Georgian Archbishop hails Iran\'s power

Georgia\'s Archbishop Patriarch Elias described Iran as one of the most powerful countries in the region, and called for the further expansion of relations between Tehran and Tbilisi.\"The cultural and historical relations between Iran and Georgia are age-old and rooted in the history of both countries,\" Patriarch Elias said in a meeting with six revered scholars of Qom Seminary School.He also referred to his recent talks with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and described the meeting as one of the sweetest memories of his life. Iran and Central Asia have in recent years accelerated their efforts to expand bilateral and regional cooperation in all the various fields. In November, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili underlined the Islamic Republic of Iran\'s important role in the regional and international developments. \"Iran is not an ordinary country for us and we believe that the country is now playing a key role in regional and global developments,\" Saakashvili said in a meeting with former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Georgian capital city of Tbilisi. He described Iran as part of his country\'s national dignity and culture, and called for the expansion of relations between the two countries. \"We are sensitive to all issues pertaining to the Islamic Republic of Iran,\" Saakashvili stated.