Iran eyes broader ties with Georgia
By Aynur Karimova
Iran is keen to broaden cooperation with Georgia, a South Caucasus nation located on the shore of the Black Sea.
A new wave of interest in ties with Georgia came after Tehran and the Group 5+1 reached a conclusion over the text of a comprehensive deal on Iran's nuke program last summer, and implemented it on January 16 this year.
The first sprouts of economic growth are obvious as Tehran has been freed from the chains of international sanctions. That enables the two countries to explore the ways for broad cooperation in all fronts.
“Economic and cultural cooperation between Iran and Georgia should be further strengthened in line with the two nations’ interests,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili on February 8, Press TV reported.
Georgia, with a favorable geographical position and great common facilities, is considered as a corridor for trade exchanges between Iran and the Black Sea countries.
Rouhani believes that Tehran and Tbilisi enjoy great potential to enhance economic cooperation and in this regard, the cancellation of visa requirements between the two sides can help improve ties and promote the level of multilateral cooperation.
Kvirikashvili, in turn, said Georgia will take concrete actions to abolish the visa regime with Iran, and thus, intensify cooperation in the field of tourism.
The two countries are also interested in cooperation in the energy field. In early January, Alireza Kameli, the Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company, said Iran plans to export its natural gas to Georgia through a pipeline.
Mehr news agency reported that Iran is expected to deliver its natural gas in the amount of 8.5-14 million cubic meters per day to Georgia through Armenia. However, according to Kameli, a contract will not be signed unless the project becomes economically justified.
Experts believe that for Tehran, possible gas supplies from Iran to Georgia will have a political context, not an economic one.
Vagif Aliyev, the Head of the Investment Department of Azerbaijan's energy giant SOCAR said in an interview with local TV channel that possible gas supplies to Georgia from Iran could happen, most likely, on the small scale.
"It is important to think how important the Georgian market is for Iran," he noted.
Iranian and Georgian officials also believe that linking the Caucasus to the Middle East by facilitating rail and road transport between the two countries is of significant importance for Tbilisi and Tehran.
They say Iran and Georgia can link the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea by promoting rail and road transport, and transportation of trade goods from the Caucasus region to the Middle East and vice versa will contribute to peace and stability in the region.
--
Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz