Moj News Agency, Iran
April 18, 2009 Saturday

Armenian Expert Hails Cooperation with Iran

"We are currently having developed relations with Iran in trade,
business and tourism," Stepan Grigoryan told Panorama. He added that
the basic aspects of the developing Armenian-Iranian relations are
transport communication and energy. "We have made the first steps in
energy cooperation by the construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.

Unfortunately, no gas still flows through the pipeline but we should
solve that problem as soon as possible to guarantee our energetic
security and to make it useless to keep Armenia in blockade," said the
expert. "If we manage to make another step forward in Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, then Turkey would become more interested to improve its
relations with Armenia," he added. When asked as to whether the
proposed Iran-Armenia railway project was justifiable, political
analyst Stepan Grigoryan responded, "Even the potential project will
be a major factor in the arena of foreign relations. When they even
speak of the plan, the policies of this or that country is changed in
the region." According to Mr. Grigoryan, the potential construction of
the railway forces Turkey to "begin to act", since, in his estimation,
"Everyone knows that Iran has $1.5 billion to construct that rail
link. We don’t have that amount and everyone knows it. This is a
political project for which the country gives money more easily than
other projects." If Armenia has a land link with Iran and the world
beyond in the next five years, the pressure exerted by Turkey on
Armenia will automatically lessen. "This is one of the reasons why
Turkey has quickened its efforts to normalize relations with Armenia,"
noted Mr. Grigoryan. He also drew parallels with the Nabucco
project. "It’s only words; there is no outline, no plan. But even this
impacts on the policies of many nations. If we could only construct
such a railway; it would open many doors for us. 2009/04/18