IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE PROGRESS DEPENDS ON MUTUAL AGREEMENT: IRANIAN OFFICIAL

Tehran Times, Iran
June 15 2006

YEREVAN (ARKA) – Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction project
can be amended only under both sides’ consent, an official with the
Iranian Embassy in Yerevan Ali Akbar Jokar told journalists on Tuesday
commenting on probability of a pipeline section acquisition by Russia.

In his words, there are no amendments so far and the project
implementation runs in due course in accordance with the agreement
signed between Armenia and Iran.

He said Iran remains committed to providing gas to Armenia.

Construction of Iran-Armenia 141-km gas pipeline of 700mm diameter
has been estimated to cost 120 million dollars.

Construction of Meghri-Kajaran, the pipeline’s first Armenian
section, started on November 30, 2004. The second section
Kajaran-Sisyan-Jermuk-Ararat will be constructed by the Iranian
company Sanir. The pipeline construction project is expected to be
completed by 2007.