Official Underlines Importance of Tehran-Russia Ties

March 5, 1998 - 0:0
ASTRAKHAN, Russia - Astrakhan Governor General, Anatoly Guzhvin, stressed the strategic importance of promotion of Tehran-Moscow economic ties via the Caspian Sea. He told IRNA that Astrakhan has had trade ties with Iran's Gilan and Mazandaran provinces since 1993 and is now holding talks with Kerman province. He said that some 26 major contracts have been signed with Iranian provinces since liberalization of Russian economy.

On bilateral exchanges in 1997, he said $13.84 million worth of goods were imported to Iran from Astrakhan while $2.69 million were exported from Iran. Nine large economic institutes are active in the province through Iran's financial cooperation, he said adding, 80 Iranian businessmen are residing in the area engaged in trade, services and transportation activities. To promote bilateral trade, Astrakhan governor general intends to set up a special warehouse complex and a wholesale center for Iranian commodities.

He pointed out that commutation of ferrries between Astrakhan and Iranian ports at the Caspian Sea will contribute greatly to promotion of tourism in the region. The governor general referred to existence of bureaucracy at Iranian ports and low amount of Iran's exports to Astrakhan as problems existing in promotion of economic relations between the two countries in the Caspian Sea. He added that efforts are being made to remove the present obstacles and expressed the hope that construction of the second part of olya port with Iran's cooperation will help promote trade ties.

On protection of the Caspian Sea environment, he said that making use of the natural reserves of the sea by the littoral states or through cooperation with a third country should not damage regional environment. Turning to formation of the organization for cooperation of the Caspian Sea littoral states to tackle environmental problems, he said that he had the impression that Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi of Iran favors creation of such a body.

He added that the Caspian Sea Environmental Research Center, set up in Astrakhan in 1997, could lay the foundation for establishment of the organization. (IRNA)