Iranian, Armenian discuss energy cooperation

Iranian Minister of Energy Majid Namjou and Armenia's President Serzh Sargsian explored avenues for the further bolstering of the two countries' mutual cooperation, specially in the energy sector, in a meeting in Yerevan. Namjou also met with Armenia's Energy Minister Armen Movsisian and told his counterpart that Tehran is ready to help resolve problems in the implementation of joint water and electricity projects. Movsisian, for his part, called for the speedy execution of the Iran-Armenia third power transmission line and the Araz hydroelectric power plant, and said, "The projects serve the interests of both nations." The new power transmission line aims at exporting Iran's electricity to Georgia, Russia and Europe. Iran is currently exchanging electricity with Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan. In recent years, Iran and its Northern neighbor Armenia have signed agreements on energy cooperation and agreed to cooperate in technology and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsian pledged in December 2011 to further expand "high-level relations" between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus to the implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen behind schedule.