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IRAN MP EMPHASIZES ON FURTHER DEEPENING OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA
Nov 6 2012
Iran
Tehran, 5 November, IRNA - Iranian Head of Iran-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group Ali Kaidi referring to good and still expanding
Tehran-Yerevan relations, attributed the exceptionally favourable
bilateral ties to good neighborly ties and two nations' increasingly
friendly relations.
According to the report, the News and Media Office of the Islamic
Parliament, Majils, further quoted Kaidi as referring to the shared
historical and cultural commonalties of the two nations in his
Monday meeting with the Ambassador of Armenia Republic to Iran,
Gregor Arakelyan, stressing the need for further improvement and
deepening of bilateral ties.
Kaidi said that the comprehensive expansion of ties, including the
parliamentary relations would naturally lead of evermore stronger
friendly relations between the two nations.
He expressed hope that the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship
groups would relying on each other's assistance mange to open a new
chapter in the two countries' relations.
Kaidi reiterated, "The Islamic Parliament, Majils, fully supports
efforts made for expansion of bilateral expansion of bilateral ties,
beginning with expansion of parliamentary relations."
The Armenian ambassador to Tehran, too, while congratulating the
establishment of the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group at
the Islamic Parliament, announced Erevan's strong will and enthusiasm
for further expansion of relations with Iran.
Ambassador Arakelyan further reiterated, "Two decades after achieving
independence, the Armenia Republic's relations with the Islamic
Republic of Iran is today at the best possible level."
He conveyed the warm greeting of the Armenian head of the Armenia-Iran
Parliamentary Friendship group to his Iranian counterpart, expressing
hope for ever more strengthening of relations and ever deeper
cooperation between the two friendly nations.
Iran and Armenia have been in contact for thousands of years. Armenia
was conquered by the Persian Empire several times throughout history,
particularly in the Median, Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid, and Safavid
periods. Due to cultural and historical ties, Armenia was sometimes
considered part of the Greater Iran. Armenia and Iran enjoy cultural
and historical ties that go back thousands of years ago.
There are no border disputes between the two countries and the
Christian Armenian minority in Iran has official recognition with
representatives at the Islamic Parliament.
Safarian, of the Armenian Center for National and International
Studies, has said 'Given this geopolitical environment, Armenia
has the legitimate right to cooperate with Iran for ensuring its
security... Besides, Armenia has an energy surplus and its only major
export market at present is Iran... So there is also a lot of economic
interest involved.'
Of special importance is the cooperation in the field of energy
security. In addition to a pipeline that will bring Iranian
natural gas into Armenia. Additionally, the two states have also
implemented other multi-million dollar energy projects. These include
the construction of two hydro-electric plants on the Arax River that
marks the Armenian-Iranian border, a third high-voltage transmission
line linking their power grids and dams, among other projects.
In July, 2007, a memorandum was signed on the start of feasibility
studies on the ideas of building an Armenian-Iranian railway and
a Russian-owned oil refinery that would process Iranian crude. In
addition, the Armenian and Iranian governments have been working on a
bilateral free trade agreement that could be signed by the end of 2007.
The Armenian government is building a second, bigger highway leading to
the Iranian border in the hope of boosting trade with Iran. In 2005,
Armenia's trade with Iran totaled 105m dollars. Trade volume between
the two countries increased to 200m dollars in 2009. Trade relations
continue to be strong.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad has been quoted as saying 'The
Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and supports the development of
ties with Armenia in various areas, particularly in energy as well
as transportation, sports, and tourism.'
Iran's cultural attache to Armenia, Reza Atufi, has announced that the
two countries have reached a preliminary agreement to make a joint
television series. He said that the joint venture would portray the
social and cultural life of Iran and Armenia and expand cinematic
ties between the two countries. There are also Iranian Armenians that
maintain the language.
Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA
Nov 6 2012
Iran
Tehran, 5 November, IRNA - Iranian Head of Iran-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group Ali Kaidi referring to good and still expanding
Tehran-Yerevan relations, attributed the exceptionally favourable
bilateral ties to good neighborly ties and two nations' increasingly
friendly relations.
According to the report, the News and Media Office of the Islamic
Parliament, Majils, further quoted Kaidi as referring to the shared
historical and cultural commonalties of the two nations in his
Monday meeting with the Ambassador of Armenia Republic to Iran,
Gregor Arakelyan, stressing the need for further improvement and
deepening of bilateral ties.
Kaidi said that the comprehensive expansion of ties, including the
parliamentary relations would naturally lead of evermore stronger
friendly relations between the two nations.
He expressed hope that the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship
groups would relying on each other's assistance mange to open a new
chapter in the two countries' relations.
Kaidi reiterated, "The Islamic Parliament, Majils, fully supports
efforts made for expansion of bilateral expansion of bilateral ties,
beginning with expansion of parliamentary relations."
The Armenian ambassador to Tehran, too, while congratulating the
establishment of the Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group at
the Islamic Parliament, announced Erevan's strong will and enthusiasm
for further expansion of relations with Iran.
Ambassador Arakelyan further reiterated, "Two decades after achieving
independence, the Armenia Republic's relations with the Islamic
Republic of Iran is today at the best possible level."
He conveyed the warm greeting of the Armenian head of the Armenia-Iran
Parliamentary Friendship group to his Iranian counterpart, expressing
hope for ever more strengthening of relations and ever deeper
cooperation between the two friendly nations.
Iran and Armenia have been in contact for thousands of years. Armenia
was conquered by the Persian Empire several times throughout history,
particularly in the Median, Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanid, and Safavid
periods. Due to cultural and historical ties, Armenia was sometimes
considered part of the Greater Iran. Armenia and Iran enjoy cultural
and historical ties that go back thousands of years ago.
There are no border disputes between the two countries and the
Christian Armenian minority in Iran has official recognition with
representatives at the Islamic Parliament.
Safarian, of the Armenian Center for National and International
Studies, has said 'Given this geopolitical environment, Armenia
has the legitimate right to cooperate with Iran for ensuring its
security... Besides, Armenia has an energy surplus and its only major
export market at present is Iran... So there is also a lot of economic
interest involved.'
Of special importance is the cooperation in the field of energy
security. In addition to a pipeline that will bring Iranian
natural gas into Armenia. Additionally, the two states have also
implemented other multi-million dollar energy projects. These include
the construction of two hydro-electric plants on the Arax River that
marks the Armenian-Iranian border, a third high-voltage transmission
line linking their power grids and dams, among other projects.
In July, 2007, a memorandum was signed on the start of feasibility
studies on the ideas of building an Armenian-Iranian railway and
a Russian-owned oil refinery that would process Iranian crude. In
addition, the Armenian and Iranian governments have been working on a
bilateral free trade agreement that could be signed by the end of 2007.
The Armenian government is building a second, bigger highway leading to
the Iranian border in the hope of boosting trade with Iran. In 2005,
Armenia's trade with Iran totaled 105m dollars. Trade volume between
the two countries increased to 200m dollars in 2009. Trade relations
continue to be strong.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad has been quoted as saying 'The
Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and supports the development of
ties with Armenia in various areas, particularly in energy as well
as transportation, sports, and tourism.'
Iran's cultural attache to Armenia, Reza Atufi, has announced that the
two countries have reached a preliminary agreement to make a joint
television series. He said that the joint venture would portray the
social and cultural life of Iran and Armenia and expand cinematic
ties between the two countries. There are also Iranian Armenians that
maintain the language.