From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Apr 23 2003 - 09:39:38 EDT
Armenian speaker, Iranian envoy discuss bilateral issues
Text of report by Armenian news agency Arminfo
Yerevan, 22 April: The political and economic ties between Armenia and
Iran are strengthening and developing and interparliamentary relations
between the two countries are deepening, Armenian Speaker Armen
Khachatryan has told a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Armenia,
Mohammad Farhad Koleini.
The Iranian envoy said that political and economic ties between the two
countries will further develop, the National Assembly press service told
our agency. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi is expected to visit
Armenia soon. After him, the ministers of education and science and
security will pay visits to Yerevan, the diplomat said. A visit to Iran
by Armenian Defence Minister and Secretary of the Armenian Security
Council Serzh Sarkisyan is being prepared.
The sides noted the importance of the work of the intergovernmental
economic commission - in particular the contribution of the head of the
Armenian president's executive staff, Artashes Tumanyan - to the
activities of the commission.
The implementation of joint economic programmes will be given the go
ahead after the parliamentary elections and formation of a new
government in Armenia. It is planned to increase Iranian investment in
the Armenian economy, in particular, in agriculture. The envoy said that
an engineering and technical assessment of the Kajaran tunnel had been
completed and the documents have been handed over to Armenia.
Iran transports 16 per cent of its cargo through the Caspian Sea, and
bearing in mind the prospect of Armenian-Russian cooperation, Armenia
may in future join the North-South transport corridor. The issue of the
construction of the Megri hydro-power station on the Araz River was also
discussed. The cost of the project is 155m dollars and it is planned to
complete the construction within 22 months.
Source: Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1434 gmt 22 Apr 03
BBC Mon TCU 220403 cal/fm
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