IRANIAN, ARMENIAN MINISTERS DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION

Regnum, Moscow
17 May 06

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has received Armenian Energy
Minister Armen Movsisyan who is paying an official visit to Tehran,
Iranian state radio reports.

During the meeting, Mottaki noted the importance of boosting
cooperation between Iran and Armenia and focused on studying ways of
expanding cooperation between the two countries.

“It is important to study new ideas and conditions and prepare the
ground for cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of
transport communications, including in the construction of the
Kadzharan tunnel, in railway communications, in the development
of private businesses, in the creation of preferential terms and
simplifications for business circles, as well as in risk reduction,”
the Iranian foreign minister said.

He said that the growth in the trade balance between Tehran and
Yerevan can raise bilateral cooperation to an acceptable level,
and cooperation between regions, especially between Iran’s northern
provinces and Armenia, will be of benefit in this context.

Expressing his satisfaction with the active work of the two countries’
joint commissions, Movsisyan said that the negotiations between Iran
and Armenia on the construction of gas pipelines, power lines and a
new road between the two countries will raise the level of bilateral
cooperation.