Karen Karapetyan: Economic cooperation with Iran is noticeably inferior to the high-level political dialogue between countries

ArmInfo. Economic cooperation between Armenia and Iran is noticeably inferior to the high-level political dialogue between countries. This was stated by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan during a meeting-conversation with the first vice-president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Eshak Jahangiri.

As the press service of the Armenian government reports, the Armenian Prime Minister highly appreciated the close, good-neighborly relations that have developed with friendly Iran, which continue to develop in an atmosphere of mutual trust. "I hope that after this meeting we will give a new breath to our cooperation and to all the programs on our agenda. I am more than sure that we can fix new successes in the economic sphere of our cooperation, "Karen Karapetyan said. First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Eskhak Jahangiri thanked the Prime Minister of Armenia for accepting his invitation, visiting Iran and highly appreciating the current level of relations between the two countries. Eshak Jahangiri noted the importance of the continuous development of economic relations between two neighboring and friendly states in various spheres and expressed confidence that the official visit of Prime Minister Karapetyan will promote further intensification and expansion of economic cooperation.

The Prime Minister of Armenia and the First Vice-President of Iran, among the important programs of the bilateral economic agenda, indicated the program for the construction of the 3rd Iran-Armenia 400 kV transmission line, which will enable to increase the volume of electricity and gas exchange between the two countries, between the two countries and the expansion of regional cooperation in this area. The parties noted the great importance of implementing the program of the Meghri hydropower plant. For the development of economic, trade relations, Iran-Armenia was pointed to the significant role of the free economic zone Syunik, its cooperation with the Iranian free zones Aras. "I am sure that this zone may interest Iranian organizations that want to enter the markets of the EEU and Europe, since Armenia enjoys the preferential regime of GSP +, as ell as

those companies that will have restrictions on cooperation with Iran.

In this context, the establishment of an export-import company can be an effective tool, "Karen Karapetyan said, adding that the RA Government is ready to assist the company in entering the market of the EEU. During the conversation Karen Karapetyan and Eshak Jahangiri were followed by an extended meeting, during which the prospects of cooperation in various spheres were discussed. Among the important spheres of cooperation between Armenia and Iran, the development of international transport corridors, multimodal transit transportations, the possible participation of the Iranian side in the construction of certain sections of the program of the North-South road corridor were indicated. It was also about the trilateral energy cooperation between Armenia and Iran-Turkmenistan.

The importance of active cooperation between the customs authorities of the two countries was also noted.  Prime Minister Karapetyan informed that the Government of Armenia initiated the program of modernization of the border checkpoint Armenia-Iran. Referring to the talks over the Iran-EEU free trade agreement, the head of the Armenian government expressed hope that the process will be completed as quickly as possible and noted that the Armenian side is ready to provide the necessary assistance. The parties expressed their common opinion that it is necessary to intensify the work of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, agreeing in the near future to hold its next, 15th meeting. The Prime Minister of Armenia and the First Vice-President of Iran also touched upon developments in the region. In this context, Karen Karapetyan thanked the Iranian side for the balanced position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Karen Karapetyan invited Ekhak Jahangiri to pay an official visit to Armenia. The invitation was accepted with gratitude. The meeting discussed issues related to cooperation in the areas of information technology, communications, transport, agriculture, tourism, education, culture.

Following the meeting of the Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan and the First Vice-President of Iran Eshak Jahangiri a number of agreements were signed: a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the field of science and technology, a program of cultural and artistic exchange for 2017- 2020, an agreement on cooperation in veterinary medicine.