IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN YEREVAN FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION MEETING

ARMENPRESS
Jul 17 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS: Iran’s foreign minister Manouchehr
Mottaki is due in Armenia for the July 20 meeting of the
Iranian-Armenian commission for economic cooperation. At the end
of the recurrent, 7-th meeting of the commission, established to
foster bilateral cooperation, the sides will sign a memorandum of
understanding.

Seyed Mahdi Mirabutalebi, chief of economic cooperation department of
the Iranian foreign ministry, said in Yerevan today his government is
not satisfied with the current level of economic ties with Armenia
and that was why foreign minister Mottaki was appointed co-chairman
of the commission.

He said Armenia and Iran should take serious steps to raise the level
of their economic cooperation to the high level of political.

‘Both governments are speaking about increasing trade volumes, but no
tangible results have been achieved yet. We can achieve success sonly
in case of free trade and I think now is the time to get down to it,"
he said.

Seyed Mahdi Mirabutalebi said the two countries should work to raise
their trade to $1 billion.

Armenian deputy foreign minister Armen Bayburdian said five groups have
been created to explore cooperation potential in all priority areas.