Yerevan, July 20 /Mediamax/. The session of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission under the Chairmanship of the Armenian Minister of Energy Armen Movsisian and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Manouchehr Mottaki, is in process in Yerevan today.

Mediamax reports that, launching the session, Armen Movsisian recalled that on March 19 of 2007 the launching of the Iran-Armenia gas-pipeline took place in the presence of the presidents of the two countries, “which became a historical event, opening a new page in the bilateral relations”.

Armen Movsisian said that Intergovernmental Commission “carries out purposeful and productive work, the results of which are satisfying and encouraging”.

Manouchehr Mottaki informed that he is getting ready to sign a bilateral agreement on establishing a free-trade regime between Armenia and Iran.

“If in 2005 the trade turnover between our states made $180mln, in 2006 the same index exceeded $200mln, however, the given volume cannot satisfy us, since it does not correspond to the existing potential”, Iranian Foreign Minister stated. According to him, “this year we need to make the given index at least $500mln, although the experts note that there is possibility of reaching the volume of $1bln”.

Manouchehr Mottaki welcomed the signing of the agreement on joint construction of the HPS on river Araks, which took place this spring, and the held talks on building oil-processing factory in Armenia with the participation of Russia, as well as the work on studying the possibilities of establishing a railroad communication between the two countries.