IRAN, ARMENIA HOLD ENERGY, TRANSPORT TALKS
Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006
TEHRAN, July 5 (MNA) - Negotiations were held here on Wednesday between
a high-ranking delegation from Armenia headed by its President Robert
Kocharian and officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
During the meeting, Ahmadinejad stressed the need for the two countries
to make use of the huge potential for expanding bilateral ties in
various fields.
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and supports the development
of ties with Armenia in various areas particularly in energy fields
as well as transportation, sports, and tourism, he noted.
Ahmadinejad stated that so far six successful sessions have been
held by the Iran-Armenia joint cooperation committee, adding that
new documents will be signed between the two countries during the
Armenian president's stay in Iran.
Iran and Armenia also enjoy good cooperation on regional and
international issues, the president said, adding, "I hope the Armenian
president's trip to Iran would serve as an important step toward the
development of all-out ties between the two countries."
For his part, Kocharian expressed pleasure with his visit to Tehran
and recalled the good memories of his last visit to the country.
Fortunately, Iran and Armenia enjoy extended ties and have signed as
many as 90 documents on mutual cooperation, he said.
He added that the countries should take new steps to implement
previous agreements.
Kocharian expressed his country's readiness to develop ties with Iran
in the fields of energy and transportation particularly in a project
to connect the two countries' railway systems.
He also called for efforts to increase the power transmission capacity
between the two neighboring countries.
Kocharian invited Ahmadinejad to pay an official visit to Armenia
for inaugurating joint projects.
The two presidents were to sign new agreements in a special ceremony
Wednesday afternoon in Tehran.
Iran is building a pipeline to supply Armenia with needed natural gas,
much of which now comes from Russia.
Earlier this spring, OAO Gazprom (GSPBEX.RS) announced a deal that
would give the Russian state-controlled gas monopoly ownership rights
to the Armenian segment of a planned pipeline; Armenian officials
denied they were turning control of the pipeline over to Gazprom.
President Kocharian arrived here at the head of a high-ranking
politico-economic delegation for a two-day official visit Wednesday
morning.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosian are accompanying
the president in this visit.
The Armenian president, during his two-day stay here, is scheduled
to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials including
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.
Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006
TEHRAN, July 5 (MNA) - Negotiations were held here on Wednesday between
a high-ranking delegation from Armenia headed by its President Robert
Kocharian and officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
During the meeting, Ahmadinejad stressed the need for the two countries
to make use of the huge potential for expanding bilateral ties in
various fields.
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and supports the development
of ties with Armenia in various areas particularly in energy fields
as well as transportation, sports, and tourism, he noted.
Ahmadinejad stated that so far six successful sessions have been
held by the Iran-Armenia joint cooperation committee, adding that
new documents will be signed between the two countries during the
Armenian president's stay in Iran.
Iran and Armenia also enjoy good cooperation on regional and
international issues, the president said, adding, "I hope the Armenian
president's trip to Iran would serve as an important step toward the
development of all-out ties between the two countries."
For his part, Kocharian expressed pleasure with his visit to Tehran
and recalled the good memories of his last visit to the country.
Fortunately, Iran and Armenia enjoy extended ties and have signed as
many as 90 documents on mutual cooperation, he said.
He added that the countries should take new steps to implement
previous agreements.
Kocharian expressed his country's readiness to develop ties with Iran
in the fields of energy and transportation particularly in a project
to connect the two countries' railway systems.
He also called for efforts to increase the power transmission capacity
between the two neighboring countries.
Kocharian invited Ahmadinejad to pay an official visit to Armenia
for inaugurating joint projects.
The two presidents were to sign new agreements in a special ceremony
Wednesday afternoon in Tehran.
Iran is building a pipeline to supply Armenia with needed natural gas,
much of which now comes from Russia.
Earlier this spring, OAO Gazprom (GSPBEX.RS) announced a deal that
would give the Russian state-controlled gas monopoly ownership rights
to the Armenian segment of a planned pipeline; Armenian officials
denied they were turning control of the pipeline over to Gazprom.
President Kocharian arrived here at the head of a high-ranking
politico-economic delegation for a two-day official visit Wednesday
morning.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosian are accompanying
the president in this visit.
The Armenian president, during his two-day stay here, is scheduled
to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials including
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.