VARTAN OSKANIAN HIGHLY ESTIMATES CURRENT LEVEL OF ARMENIAN-IRANIAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 09 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. "In 2006, a number of important
programs with Iran were implemented. We will continue our active
cooperation with Iran in 2007, too." RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian declared this at the January 9 press conference.

In his words, Armenian-Iranian economic relations develop successfully
in various spheres, among which energy and transport are considered as
most important. Progress was also registered in spheres of agriculture,
commerce, science, culture and sport.

V.Oskanian said that Armenian-Iranian economic relations also
include elements of regional cooperation. In this respect he
attached importance to Armenia’s joining the agreement of North-South
international transport corridor in 2006. In the same context among
the important achievements of the year are agreements reached as a
result of Iran-Armenia-Georgia tripartite meeting in Yerevan among
the Ministries of Energy of these countries.

Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission plays an important part
in promotion of Armenian-Iranian bilateral relations. The commission’s
6th sitting took place in January in Tehran. In V.Oskanian’s words,
among the most important programs controlled by the commission are:

– construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, the official opening
and exploitation of which are scheduled for 2007 March,

– construction of Iran-Armenia high tension electric conductivity
third line,

– construction of joint HPPs on Araks,

– exploitation of newly repaired sector of Armenia-Iran motorway.