IRAN WANTS TO INCREASE IMPORTS FROM ARMENIA
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
July 20, 2007 Friday 08:44 PM EST
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Armenian Prime
Minister Serge Sarkisyan on Friday that increasing imports from
Armenia was a priority for Iran.
A lot of untapped potential and opportunities are lying in this
field, said Mottaki who spent several hours in the Armenian capital
of Yerevan. He attended the 7th meeting of the Armenian-Iranian
Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic Cooperation.
The Iranian Foreign Minister believes that Armenia could become a
major re-exporter of goods to Iran. He said that other countries had
re-exported more than $11 billion worth of goods via the United Arab
Emirates to Iran last year.
The inter-governmental commission issued an order to finalize an
agreement on the trade regime between Armenia and Iran within the
next two months, Manouchehr Mottaki went on to say.
He described as exemplary the bilateral energy cooperation between the
two countries. He also said that banking cooperation and implementation
of mutually beneficial transportation programs were also promising.
"Iran is assigning Armenia with a vital role in the North-South
transportation corridor," Mottaki went on to say.
The Iranian side confirmed it was ready to render assistance in the
solution of the Karabakh conflict.
In turn, Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisyan thanked Iran for
its role in securing stability and peace in the region. Yerevan also
favors the solution of problems by peaceful means through talks and
compromise, the Armenian premier said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also met Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan. They stressed their countries’ determination
to develop bilateral cooperation on various issues, the Armenian
president’s press service told Itar-Tass. The Armenian-Iranian
political cooperation has been reflected in the economic sector.