(Irna) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Tuesday stressed the importance of taking further measures to develop this northwestern province.
Ahmadinejad, accompanied by members of his cabinet, arrived in the provincial capital, Tabriz, this morning for an official four-day visit, reports Trend.
"Development of Azarbaijan province is tantamount to development of the country. Dignity and progress for Azarbaijan will be the pride of Islamic Iran," he said.
He moreover said that Azarbaijan is an "endless treasure" of the Iranian nation and praised the province's brave and devout people.
He said that he and his cabinet ministers would make the necessary decisions to start implementation of infrastructure projects for East Azarbaijan.
The president, on the first day of his four-day visit to this northwestern province, is scheduled to address residents of the capital Tabriz and meet with local residents of Malekan and Bonab cities.
He will also address residents of 19 cities of the province.
On the last day of his visit, he and his cabinet ministers will hold a session in Tabriz to discuss the province's problems and needs.
East Azarbaijan province has a population of 3.5 million.
The 235-km Aras river forms an international border between the province and Azarbaijan Republic and Armenia.
President Ahmadinejad's current provincial visit is his 16th to various provinces of the country since the start of his initiative of bringing the government closer to the people.
He and his cabinet have already visited the provinces of South Khorasan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Ilam, Qom, Hormuzgan, Bushehr, Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari, Lorestan, Golestan, Kohgilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad and Khorassan Razavi, Zanjan, Markazi, Qazvin and Hamedan.