The 11-th session of Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental Commission took place in Yerevan

The 11-th session of Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental Commission took place in Yerevan

On October 24, 2012, the 11-th session of the RA-IRI Intergovernmental Joint Commission began in Yerevan. The Iranian delegation, headed by the Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Majid Namjou, the Co-chairman of the Iranian side of the Commission, visited to Yerevan to participate in the session.

The RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan welcomed the participants and said:

-The high level relationship in the political sphere between two countries imposes to provide adequate activities in the economic sphere.

At present, the Iran-Armenia third high voltage transmission line, joint HPPs and Iran-Armenia oil-products pipeline construction projects, as well the cooperation expanding in the petrolеum-chemistry sphere are on the agenda.

It has great importance the promotion of two-sided transportation, especially railway communication.

A number of discussions about Iran-Armenia railway construction projects were established and there is resoluteness of sides and mutual interest to realize the plan.

Due to activation of economic relations, there is some progress in the bilateral trade dimension which is on the highest level since the beginning of our relations, but general physical volumes are not satisfactory and the available high potential demands to twice or to thrice these results rapidly.

I suppose that the approximation of cooperation of the private sector trade organizations and the institutes, the stimulation of joint investments and organization of other such arrangements can play a serious role in this sphere.

I am glad to notice, that there is a visual activity in the frame of inter-regional cooperation.

The existing high level of Armenia-Iran interactions, based on the tradition of confidence and neighborly relationship, is the guarantee for the deepening of the truly established mutually advantageous relations between our countries, and I am sure, by concerted efforts we will be able to speed up the accomplishment of the joint projects.

Appreciating the role of Armenia in the relations with neighbor countries, the Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Majid Namjou said:

-The political and economic relations between Iran and Armenia are on a high level and are developing in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

Of course, there is some progress in the field of realization of the joint projects, but, I have to note, that there are some obstacles, because of which the project work was slowdown. In this respect, we are not satisfied with the achievements, and we must do our best to overcome the difficulties and to have more progress.

During the session the sides discussed issues concerning the spheres of trade-economic, energy, transport and communication, mining industry, nature protection, health, agriculture, labour and social affairs, education and science, culture, as well as issues concerning inter-regional cooperation.

At the end of the session, the Memorandum of Understanding of the 11-th Joint Session of RA-IRI Intergovernmental Commission was signed.

The Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental Commission was created in 1992 in parallel with the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.