ARMENIA WANTS IRAN’S AID IN PROJECTS

press tv
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:15:35 GMT

Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Movsisyan has called
for Iran’s participation in dam and power plant projects in Armenia.

Armen Movsisyan in his meeting with Iranian Energy Minister Parviz
Fattah stressed the need to finance the Aras hydroelectric power plant,
hoping the agreement would be finalized and signed during Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Armenia early next year.

Movsisyan expressed his country’s desire to benefit from Iranian
expertise in Armenian development projects particularly dam
construction as well as a boost in Iran’s export of technical and
engineering services to Armenia.

Iranian minister Fattah said Iran attaches great importance to
enhancing cooperation with regional states and is therefore willing
to forge ties with Armenia.

He said that feasibility studies for the Meghri and Aras hydroelectric
power plant projects are near completion and that construction will
commence shortly after project funding is approved.

The two countries signed two memoranda of understanding on construction
of a hydroelectric power plant on Aras River.

Given the unprecedented draught in Iran and shortage of electricity,
Iran also welcomes importing electricity from Armenia, Fattah added.

Tehran and Yerevan are constructing a 140-km pipeline to carry natural
gas from gas-abundant Iran to Armenia. The two countries also plan
to work together to construct a railroad that would link the two
neighboring countries.