WHAT BOOSTED ARMENIA-IRAN COMMUNICATION
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26883.html
Published: 14:35:13 - 18/07/2012
A free trade zone is planned to be set up on the Armenian-Iranian
border. According to the Iranian IRNA news agency, the agreement
on the establishment of the zone has been signed by the director of
the Iranian free trade zone Sadek Najafi and Syunik governor Surik
Khachatryan during Najafi's three-day visit to Armenia. A market will
also be opened at the border.
At the same time, an agreement was reached to create a forest zone
at the Armenian-Iranian border.
There is something that boosted the Armenian-Iranian relations. So far,
it has only been spoken about projects, while nothing concrete was
done mainly because Armenia could not ignore the Western countries
which strengthened sanctions on Iran. Besides, Russia is jealous
about the Armenia-Iran relations especially regarding gas issues. It
is possible that the West approved the Armenian and Iranian ties in
order to weaken Armenia's dependence on Russia.
But the activation of ties may also be related to Iran's feeling of
the danger in the result of the solution of the Syrian issue. On July
10, the spiritual leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, called on the people
for the first time to get ready for the war and the end of the world.
In his speech, Khamenei said. "With the help of Allah and his invisible
support, we will ensure the victory of the Islamic civilization in
the world war".
In August, Serzh Sargsyan is planning to visit Iran upon the
invitation of his Iranian counterpart. Besides, it has been stated
that the implantation of large-scale projects is urgency stemming
from common interests.
The Armenian party is going to enhance the scales of the trade
circulation between Armenia and Iran, said the vice-prime minister
of Armenia Armen Gevorgyan at his meeting with the Iranian internal
affairs minister on July 9. A number of ambitious projects such as the
construction of a thermal power plant on Arax River and construction of
the Armenia - Iran railway have been included in the bilateral agenda.
But, apparently, Armenia and Iran are discussing not only economic but
also security issues. No accident, the minister of internal affairs
of Iran visited Armenia and met with force structure representatives,
including the minister of emergency situations. Most likely, prospects
related with the Iranian developments and the possible flow of refugees
were discussed.
Armenia and Iran couldn't but discuss the Karabakh issue. As we know,
Iran disagrees with the deployment of foreign forces in the conflict
zone and says ready to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Apparently, in August, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will meet
in Tehran.