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I AM SURE THAT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN IRAN TO FILL ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS WITH NEW CONTENTS, AND WILL NOT RESULT IN CHANGES OF POLITICAL COURSE

Geham Gharibjanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, stated in the interview to ARMINFO News Agency.

- Mr. Gharibjanyan, won't the results of the presidential election result in Iran bring to serious problems in the Armenian-Iranian relations? May one expect that becoming president in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a politician with conservative views may create certain difficulties in fulfillment of already approved bilateral programs?

- I am sure that the presidential election in Iran will fill the Armenian-Iranian relations with new contents and quality, and will not result in changes of the political course of that country relating to Armenia. The new leadership of Iran will be consistent and all the ratified projects will be realized. The 6th sitting of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission will take place in Teheran in autumn 2005. The process of fulfillment of Commission's previous decisions will be discussed and the tasks for future will be determined there. The results of the activities of the Commission will fill the bilateral relations with new, qualitative contents. The volume of works done really impresses and there is no doubt that the Armenian-Iranian relations will develop further. People in Tehran always stress that Armenia and Iran have always been good-neighbor states, and the development of the bilateral relations in the economic sphere confirms that once more. The balanced position of Iran in the region points at the simple reality that all benefit by such a position.

- Activation of Armenian-Iranian relations not only at interstate and intergovernmental levels is seen lately. The relationship between the regions of the two states begin to develop actively…

- You are right. The last visit of the delegation of the Iranian province of Khormozgan headed by the governor of the province Ebrahim Derazgisu, to Yerevan confirms, he said reminding that the visit took place by the invitation of the governor of Ararat region of Armenia Alik Sargsian. Both governors signed a memorandum on intentions, which will become a basis of the development of the bilateral horizontal relations of the two regions. I'd like to mention that the port Bender-Abbas is the largest one in the Persian Gulf and is a gate not only to Iran, but also to Europe. Besides, the leaders of the two subjects discussed issues of activation of bilateral economic cooperation. The two regions have rather prosperous and promising bilateral projects. I should remind that Syunik region of Armenia and Iran's province of Atrpatakan had earlier established relations and now they are actively developing.

- The leadership of Armenia has mentioned more than once that the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia is designed to satisfy only the needs of Armenia. At the same time the leadership of Iran at all levels speaks of the possibility of its using as a transit. What gas pipeline the matter concerns?

- At this stage the matter concerns only the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia. Of course, Iran, whose gas resources are the second in the world, is interested in entry into international markets. In this connection, during all the negotiations this factor is determinant for Iran. But in the case with Armenia one should say only about alternative gas pipeline and satisfaction of the domestic needs o the country in natural fuel. The gas pipeline must be put into operation till Jan 1, 2006. The blue fuel will be supplied to Yerevan Heating Power Plan, and the electricity generated there must be returned to Iran as payment for Iranian gas. In this connection, the sides are carrying out activities on construction of the third power-transmission lines Iran-Armenia. The realization of these projects is very important for Armenia, as it will allow ensuring its energy safety.

- You mentioned the project of the construction of the Meghri Hydro Power Plant. At what stage is its implementation today?

- Both intergovernmental commission and Ministry of Energy of Armenia are actively working over this project. The matter concerns the construction of two HPPs with the fixed capacity of 90 Megawatt each on the bordering river of Araks - one in the territory of Iran, and the other - in Armenia. According to preliminary agreement, the construction of the two HPPs will start next year.

- What other projects would you like to mention?

- Now we are working actively over the development of small and middle-sized business. There is an Armenian-Iranian commission at the Chamber of Commerce of Iran, and it is operating quite effectively. Exhibition of goods of Iranian manufacturers is held in Yerevan every two years. 6 similar expositions are held already. We have problems in the development of bilateral relations in the cultural sphere. Despite the agreements, Days of culture of Armenia in Iran have not been held yet. Besides, the Iranian culture is not presented in Armenia at due level. Iran is a country with richest culture, and representatives of the Armenian diaspora, who enjoy all the rights, have showed their participation in the development of the Iranian culture. In particular, two deputies - Armenians are represented in the Mejlis of Iran; there are Armenian schools, different unions. In any case, I am sure that the Armenian-Iranian relations will develop and filled with new contents.

Alexander Avanesov, ARMINFO, July 6, 2005