Iranian, Armenian Provinces Governors Call For More Co-op

Tabriz, Jan 16, IRNA – Governor Generals of East Azerbaijan province of Iran and Syunik province of Armenia called for strengthening and deepening of relations and more cooperation between the two sides. Ahmad Alireza-baygi and Suren Khachatrian told reporters here on Tuesday afternoon that their negotiation has been successful in expansion and development of bilateral cooperation between the two provinces. Alireza-Baygi said that Syunik is one of the Armenian biggest provinces and its economics is upon agriculture and animal husbandry, which East Azerbaijan needs and East Azerbaijan industrial and services abilities can be at disposal of the Armenian side. Concerning his meeting on Monday evening with his Armenian counterpart, Baygi said that important decisions were made in the meeting about developing ties in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, industry and mine, construction materials, exchanging university students and cooperation. He added that the decisions were made in the framework of several memoranda of understanding which were signed on Tuesday afternoon by provincial officials. Khachatrian, for his part, said that he visited several manufacturing units in Tabriz and all of them had a high quality level and he was pleased that his province had a neighbor in such progressive level. He called development of bilateral ties with Tabriz very important, adding that importance of such cooperation is for old and historical friendship between the two countries and that such good ties should continue. Governor general of Syunik province of Armenia arrived in Tabriz on Monday heading a provincial politico-economic delegation. Syunik is one of 11 provinces of Armenia Republic neighboring East Azerbaijan province of Iran./end