Tuesday, 6 May 2008
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia Seyed Ali Saghaian.
The meeting agenda comprised discussion of issues bearing on the further expansion of the Armenian-Iranian cooperation in a variety of spheres and the realization of new projects in parallel to the ongoing programs.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports the newly elected President of Armenia and your government in all those directions which have been declared as a priority in the new program of RA Government," - Ali Saghaian has stressed during the meeting with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
Considering that economic exchanges and the level of the USD 200 MN-worth trade turnover between the two countries still fell short of the level of political relationship, the parties pointed out the importance of further endeavors towards boosting investments and activating exchanges between the respective business circles and the provision of conditions favorable for their activities, as well as the expansion of the already existing direct contacts between individual administrative units.
The IRI Ambassador advised that two major international symposia will be held in Teheran shortly to review cross-country transportations- and urban development-related issues and asked the Armenian prime minister to provide for the participation of corresponding RA ministers in these important events. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan assured that he would instruct the ministers of transport and communication and urban development to attend the mentioned symposia, account taken of their importance to our country.
The Prime Minister of Armenia and the Iranian Ambassador similarly emphasized the importance of establishing RA and IRI general consulates in Tabriz and Kapan respectively concerning which a high-level arrangement has already been made on either side.
The interlocutors further touched upon the preparations for the upcoming session of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, due to be held this summer. The Ambassador stressed the need for the commission to discuss second-stage programs of cooperation in parallel to the ongoing programs.
The Iranian ambassador similarly stressed the need for making joint efforts towards mitigating or eliminating the impact of increased prices on the worldwide markets, which specifically affected developing or transition economies. He said that, for instance, Iran and Armenia could expand the cooperation in the sphere of agriculture by developing and making a better use of domestic resources.
The Prime Minister agreed with his interlocutor as to the expansion of the agricultural cooperation and expressed readiness on the part of the Armenian government to start discussions between corresponding departments.
"We are interested and will do everything to deepen and enhance the level the ongoing economic interaction with the neighboring Iran as this is in the best interests of our peoples. On the one hand, this will ensure higher security for our two countries and peoples, on the other hand, it will promote economic growth,"
