ARMENIAN, IRANIAN GOVERNMENTS SIGN NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS ON AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 5 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. Armenian and Iranian governments signs a
number of agreements on the agricultural sector. Armenian Minister of
Agriculture David Lokyan reported at the official ceremony of signing
of the agreements that the bilateral cooperation is beneficial for
both countries, and we have a few directions in which it will be most
effectively developed.

"The most effective segments of cooperation under the bilateral
agreements are particularly flower-growing, hothouse market-gardening,
seed-growing and livestock-breeding," he said.

Lokyan said that according to these agreements, working groups will
be created at the two countries’ ministries of agriculture that will
discuss establishment of disinfectants production in Armenia with
Iran’s support.

The minister pointed out that according to one of the agreements
Armenia is to supply Iran with 2000 tons of mutton and 6000 tons
of beef and veal annually during 2007-2009. Besides this, Armenia
will assist Iran in importing species of trout, and Iran will take
an active part in breeding new species of fish in Armenia. At the
same time, Lokyan reported that the Iranian ministry of agriculture
intends to render scientific and technical assistance to Armenia with
introduction of drip irrigation system to the country.

He explained that a number of verbal agreements.

In his turn, Iranian Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Reza Escandari
pointed out that Iran and Armenia have a positive potential for
cooperation that will contribute to further strengthening and
development of relations in the agricultural sector.

Armenian and Iranian governments signed agreements on cooperation in
the sanitary and veterinary sector, in the sector of protection of
plants and phytosanitary quarantine, and memorandum on understanding
on cooperation in the agricultural sector on November 29.