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OFFERS FROM IRAN: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC'S AMBASSADOR IN YEREVAN UNVEILS PROPOSALS ON GAS, RAILROAD, PASTURES, GENOCIDE-RELATED ARCHIVES
SOCCER | 12.06.13 | 11:57
Photolure
Mohammad Reisi
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Reisi held a meeting with
reporters in Yerevan on Tuesday during which he made a number of
proposals to Armenia. The proposals were made almost directly, even
though in a style typical of Persian diplomacy.
The first proposal concerned natural gas supplies - the ambassador, in
fact, suggested that Iran increase the volume of natural gas supplied
to Armenia, dropping hints that the price could be negotiated. At
present Iran supplies only a small portion of the natural gas imported
by Armenia, while the main supplier and gas distribution monopolist is
Russia. But Moscow recently raised the price of natural gas, and Iran,
in fact, offers its services as an alternative supplier.
According to Reisi, given the friendly relations with Armenia, Iran
continues its partnership in the gas sphere, and Armenia itself has
to decide how far the Iranian gas could be an alternative to the
Russian one.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Areg
Galstyan acknowledged the possibility of considering the issue of
increasing the delivery of Iranian gas to Armenia. The official said
that under a contract, if needed, Armenia may increase the volume of
gas supplies from Iran. "The more sources, directions and types of
fuel a country has, the safer and more assured it feels," he added.
The Iranian ambassador also addressed the issue of the lease of
Armenian pastures in Syunik, which is a southern province bordering on
the Islamic Republic, to Iranian sheep-breeders. A related memorandum
caused a wave of discontent in Armenia earlier this year, but the
ambassador said that the matter had been blown out of proportion,
while in reality it did not harm Armenia. In fact, the ambassador
suggested that the sides get down to realizing the project.
Approximately 30,000 sheep were exported from Armenia to Iran as
of June 2013, according to Armenian Ministry of Agriculture Animal
Health Management Department chief Ashot Hovhannisyan. "Hopefully,
this year the exports of sheep to Iran will increase over the last
year to reach the level of 2009-2011 when on average 150,000 heads
of sheep were exported annually," he said.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture is categorically against
leasing pastures in Syunik to foreign farmers. "The Ministry of
Agriculture considers it more appropriate to organize sheep-breeding
there by local farmers and annually sell up to 50,000 heads of sheep
to Iranian entrepreneurs," said Hovhannisyan.
Another proposal by Reisi concerned plans for the railway between the
two countries that haven't got off the drawing board yet. Iran expects
Armenia's steps in the construction of the railroad, said Reisi. "We
have repeatedly stated that as soon as Armenia starts building its
part of the railroad, we will start building ours. I think that the
Armenian side is interested in creating a high-speed rail link from
Meghri to Georgia," he said.
And the proposal to open Iran's archives to explore facts related to
the Armenian Genocide sounded quite sensational. "I think you should
instruct historians to study the Iranian archives. They can request
any materials related to the Armenian Genocide," said the diplomat.
Reisi also said that every year in April he personally goes to the
Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex commemorating the victims of the
Armenian Genocide. "Genocide is a crime committed against humanity,
which is unacceptable to us. Unfortunately, such crimes occur even
in our own days, for example, in Syria, where thousands of civilians
get killed," said the Iranian ambassador.
The diplomat also found it necessary to stress that no one has the
right to interfere in the relations between other sovereign nations.
"The United States is seeking to propagate Iranophobia. But in the
region the nations know well the friendliness of Iran," he said.
Armenian-Iranian economic cooperation to some extent is limited by
the sanctions imposed on Iran by the international community over
the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
SOCCER | 12.06.13 | 11:57
Photolure
Mohammad Reisi
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Reisi held a meeting with
reporters in Yerevan on Tuesday during which he made a number of
proposals to Armenia. The proposals were made almost directly, even
though in a style typical of Persian diplomacy.
The first proposal concerned natural gas supplies - the ambassador, in
fact, suggested that Iran increase the volume of natural gas supplied
to Armenia, dropping hints that the price could be negotiated. At
present Iran supplies only a small portion of the natural gas imported
by Armenia, while the main supplier and gas distribution monopolist is
Russia. But Moscow recently raised the price of natural gas, and Iran,
in fact, offers its services as an alternative supplier.
According to Reisi, given the friendly relations with Armenia, Iran
continues its partnership in the gas sphere, and Armenia itself has
to decide how far the Iranian gas could be an alternative to the
Russian one.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia Areg
Galstyan acknowledged the possibility of considering the issue of
increasing the delivery of Iranian gas to Armenia. The official said
that under a contract, if needed, Armenia may increase the volume of
gas supplies from Iran. "The more sources, directions and types of
fuel a country has, the safer and more assured it feels," he added.
The Iranian ambassador also addressed the issue of the lease of
Armenian pastures in Syunik, which is a southern province bordering on
the Islamic Republic, to Iranian sheep-breeders. A related memorandum
caused a wave of discontent in Armenia earlier this year, but the
ambassador said that the matter had been blown out of proportion,
while in reality it did not harm Armenia. In fact, the ambassador
suggested that the sides get down to realizing the project.
Approximately 30,000 sheep were exported from Armenia to Iran as
of June 2013, according to Armenian Ministry of Agriculture Animal
Health Management Department chief Ashot Hovhannisyan. "Hopefully,
this year the exports of sheep to Iran will increase over the last
year to reach the level of 2009-2011 when on average 150,000 heads
of sheep were exported annually," he said.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture is categorically against
leasing pastures in Syunik to foreign farmers. "The Ministry of
Agriculture considers it more appropriate to organize sheep-breeding
there by local farmers and annually sell up to 50,000 heads of sheep
to Iranian entrepreneurs," said Hovhannisyan.
Another proposal by Reisi concerned plans for the railway between the
two countries that haven't got off the drawing board yet. Iran expects
Armenia's steps in the construction of the railroad, said Reisi. "We
have repeatedly stated that as soon as Armenia starts building its
part of the railroad, we will start building ours. I think that the
Armenian side is interested in creating a high-speed rail link from
Meghri to Georgia," he said.
And the proposal to open Iran's archives to explore facts related to
the Armenian Genocide sounded quite sensational. "I think you should
instruct historians to study the Iranian archives. They can request
any materials related to the Armenian Genocide," said the diplomat.
Reisi also said that every year in April he personally goes to the
Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex commemorating the victims of the
Armenian Genocide. "Genocide is a crime committed against humanity,
which is unacceptable to us. Unfortunately, such crimes occur even
in our own days, for example, in Syria, where thousands of civilians
get killed," said the Iranian ambassador.
The diplomat also found it necessary to stress that no one has the
right to interfere in the relations between other sovereign nations.
"The United States is seeking to propagate Iranophobia. But in the
region the nations know well the friendliness of Iran," he said.
Armenian-Iranian economic cooperation to some extent is limited by
the sanctions imposed on Iran by the international community over
the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.