KOCHARYAN: IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE A NEW STAGE IN BILATERAL RELATIONS
Regnum, Russia
March 19 2007
The Iran-Armenia natural gas pipeline brings the relationship between
the two countries to a new level, a REGNUM correspondent reports
quoting President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan to say today, March 19,
at an opening ceremony of the pipeline. Kocharyan called the ceremony
attended by President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a memorable one.
The Armenia’s president reminded that 15 years ago, when Armenia
declared her independence, only barbed wire could be seen at the
Armenian-Iranian border, a Soviet-times legacy. "Today, we cooperate
in a number of directions, particularly, in the fields of energy,
transport, and industry. We built a bridge over the Araks River,
through which only in 2006, 600 tons of cargo were shipped," Kocharyan
informed.
Kocharyan also reminded of an agreement of Megri hydro power
plant construction and negotiations over construction of the third
high-voltage power line connecting the two countries. He described
relationship between Iran and Armenia as an active political dialog
– largely owing to the work of the intergovernmental commission. In
Kocharyan’s words, it is the Commission’s work that makes possible a
deeper understanding between the countries. "We attempt to bring to
life economic projects designed to develop economic cooperation,"
adding that the sides avoid steps that could be interpreted as a
threat to mutual security.
President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran has no problems in
its relationship with Armenia. He said that projects implemented in a
number of fields are meant to strengthen friendly relations between
the two countries. Ahmadinejad informed that during his meeting
with Robert Kocharyan, both previously discussed and new ideas were
discussed, and new cooperation agreements in the fields of energy,
natural gas and oil development, as well as water resources, were
reached. According to the president of Iran, realization of these
agreements will make the bilateral relations stronger. He assessed
his short visit to Armenia as a highly productive one.