VARTAN OSKANIAN DISCUSSES POSSIBILITY TO EXTEND COOPERATION IN ENERGY SPHERE IN IRAN
Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006
TEHRAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 17, the delegation led
by RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was in Iran on a working visit
at the invitation of IRI Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. The
two countries’ Foreign Ministers mentioned with satisfaction that
after RA President Robert Kocharian’s visit to Iran in 2006 July,
the agreements reached during the visit are consistently fulfilled,
in particular, construction programs of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
high voltage electric conductivity third line, as well as construction
program of an alternative road. They also touched upon possibility
of extension of cooperation in the energy sphere. The interlocutors
discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. They expressed
satisfaction with active development of relations, bilateral contacts
at various levels.
Attaching importance to the work of the bilateral Intergovernmental
Commission, the interlocutors touched upon trade and economic
contacts. It was mentioned that cooperation between Armenia and Iran
in various spheres proceeds not only from two countries’ interests,
but also is beneficial for the whole region. In this respect the sides
singled out full-value exploitation of the North-South axis. The
Ministers touched upon regional problems exchanging thoughts about
developments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Near East. Possibilities of
deepening cooperation at international organizations were also
discussed. Minister Oskanian presented last developments in the
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. In the second half of
the day Vartan Oskanian was received by Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Highly estimating cooperation between Armenia and Iran,
the interlocutors discussed issues relating to the bilateral agenda.
Touching upon ancient-old friendship and historic-cultural communities
between Armenia and Iran, RA Foreign Minister emphasized that today
these contacts are a strong basis for development of special relations
between the two countries that continue to be formed in atmosphere of
mutual respect and confidence. During the meeting between Minister
Oskanian and IRI National Security Supreme Council Secretary,
Ali Larijani, the latter informed him about the last developments
relating to Iranian nuclear programs at international organizations
stressing IRI’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. At
Ali Larijani’s request, Minister Oskanian presented the current
stage of negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. During the
meeting between RA Foreign Minister and Majlis Chairman Gholamali
Haddad Adel, the sides greeted activization of interparliamentary
contacts between the two countries giving assurance that the visit
of IRI Majlis Chairman Haddad Adel to Armenia in September will be
favorable for bilateral relations. The Minister congratulated IRI
Majlis Chairman on the occasion of successful outcome of interim
parliamentary elections, town and village Islamic Councils elections
that ended on December 15. The Majlis Chairman emphasized that
the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission is an efficient
structure in the respect of promotion of bilateral relations and
in this context he attached importance to necessity to hold regular
consultations between executive power bodies of the two countries.
According to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, Vartan Oskanian also
met with the Iranian Armenian delegation of Armenia-Diaspora Third
Conference and with representatives of the Armenian community.