ArmInfo.Armenian-Iranian relations are distinguished by centuries-old friendship based on mutual trust and mutual respect. RA Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan stated today during a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri.
During the meeting, as reported by the press service of the RA government, Tigran Avinyan touched upon the situation in the region due to military aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh. The Deputy Prime Minister paid special attention to the issue of prisoner exchange as a priority for Armenia.
The parties agreed that the Armenian-Iranian cooperation has an extensive agenda, which should be carried out in stages. They also discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. In the context of the implementation of the agreements reached with Iran, Tigran Avinyan stressed the importance of the construction of the Iran-Armenia 400 kV power transmission line and the construction of the Noravan substation.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that one of the main strategic areas of cooperation is the Gas for Electricity program, the possibility of extending the agreement, as well as the agreement reached in December 2020 to increase the volume of barter supplies. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to the Persian Gulf - Black Sea international transport corridor.
The Deputy Prime Minister also spoke about the possibilities of cooperation in the field of information and telecommunication technologies, including within the framework of the regional telecommunication project Europe-Armenia-Iran-Qatar.
Earlier ArmInfo reported that Armenia joined the regional project of creating a telecommunication connection Europe - Armenia - Iran -Qatar. With the help of this program, a transit connection will be created, connecting the countries of the Persian Gulf and Asia with Europe. New channel will become an alternative to the current sea route, which will actually pass through Armenia bypassing Azerbaijan and Turkey. By the way, Turkey and Azerbaijan were striving for the project.
At present, the construction of the Iran-Armenia power transmission line is also ongoing, thanks to which it will be possible to create an Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia energy corridor. The cost of the Iranian section of the project is $ 107 million. This year, work on the construction of the Armenia-Georgia power transmission line should start, the cost of this section of the project is $ 303 million.
In addition, in 2021, it is envisaged to increase the volume of the gas barter operation in exchange for electricity, within the framework of which Iran supplies Armenia 1 cubic meter of gas, receiving 3 kW /h in return. At the same time, Armenian producers retain 1 kW / h of electricity.