Iran’s Parl. speaker calls for expanding ties with Georgia

TEHRAN, Jun. 24 (MNA) – Ali larijani held a meeting with the head of Iran-Georgia parliamentary friendship group in which he stressed the need for expanding bilateral economic ties between Iran and Georgia. In the meeting with Shalva Kiknavelizde, the head of Iran-Georgia parliamentary friendship group, in Tehran today, the Iranian parliament speaker referred to the long-standing relations between Iran and Georgia, expressing Iran’s willingness to expand bilateral ties in the economic field with Georgia. Ali Larijani hailed the high-level cooperation between Iran and Georgia, calling for broader economic cooperation between the two sides. Shalva Kiknavelizde, for his part, expressed his happiness with the meetings with Iranian officials, calling for expanding bilateral ties, especially relations between the two countries’ parliaments. Kiknavelizde said that frequent meetings between the two countries’ officials have strengthened bilateral relations during the past years. The head of Iran-Georgia parliamentary friendship group further added that in addition to cooperation in the gas industry, there is cooperation between the two countries in the transportation sector, adding that the railway project between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea is also of interest to Georgia, and there have also been talks with Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria in that regard. He highlighted that there are seven Iranian airline companies and two Georgian counterparts that are cooperating with each other in transportation field. Kiknavelizde referred to joint projects between Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Russia in the field of energy that are being implemented, adding that they are also cooperating in the field of oil products. Referring to visits by Iranian officials to Goergia, the Georgian parliamentary official said Georgia is prepared to open branches for Iranian banks in his country, adding that in the economic and tourism fields, Georgia is also ready for further cooperation, and Iranian companies can have wider access to European markets through Georgia.