August 9, 2007 - 15:58 AMT
Armenian-Iranian cooperation develops on mutually beneficial conditions
"The Armenian community of Iran plays a great role in strengthening the Armenian-Iranian relations. The newly established "Iran-Armenia" union of friendship, which also includes some representatives of the Armenian community, will continue its productive activities aimed at strengthening the prosperity and progress of both nations," RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated. He also underlined the productive work of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission on coordination of bilateral ties, the 7th session of which was held in Yerevan July 20.

According to the Armenian FM, during the recent years the sides have undertaken steps on realizing mutually beneficial projects. "The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was inaugurated by Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on March 19, 2007. The same day energy ministers of both countries signed an agreement between the governments of Armenia and Iran on cooperation in the sphere of construction and exploitation of a hydroelectric power station on Araks River. Currently other programs in the energy sphere are under discussion," the RA FM noticed. At the same time he underlined Armenian-Iranian cooperation is not limited only to energy sphere. "A productive and active cooperation is observed in transportation, trade, agricultural, scientific, educational and cultural spheres," Oskanian told in an interview to the Iranian-based Armenian newspaper "Huys" adding that since acquiring independence in 1991 Armenia and Iran have established strong and good-neighbor relations, which became a good base for realizing joint projects.