Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki on Saturday held talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on ways to expand comprehensive cooperation especially in energy sector.
“Fortunately, the train of bilateral relations is moving in a good condition. Joint agreements on energy and building an electricity power plant are underway and the memoranda of understanding on cooperation in South Pars gas filed are in the final process,” Mottaki stated.
He expressed hope that the implementation of Article 44 of the Constitution which calls for the privatization of state-run economy will provide the ground for further cooperation between the two neighbors’ private sectors.
Erdogan, for his part, said political, economic, and cultural relations between Tehran and Ankara have considerably improved over the past years.
“We hope that the implementation of power plant and refinery projects in Iran by Turkish companies will provide the ground for further expansion of relations.”
Iran announced in early July that the construction of a 600-million-euro pipeline to transfer Iran’s natural gas to Turkey and Europe will begin soon.
“”A 56-inch-diameter pipeline will be extended to Iran’s border point of Bazargan to boost gas exports to Turkey and Europe,”” Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister Reza Kasaeizadeh said.
Kasaeizadeh expressed hope that the project would soon be put out to tender, saying that the 420-kilometer pipeline is of paramount importance for Iran.
Turkish prime minister said, “We believe that the Iran-Turkey-Europe gas route should be on the top agenda of the two countries.”
Source: Tehran Times, July 20, 2008