Georgian Parliamentarians Seek to Boost Relations with Iran amid Nuclear Deal
On the 8th August a Georgian Parliamentary delegation, headed by Gubaz Sanikidze, an MP who also serves as the Head of the Iran-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Iran.
Georgian MPs met with the Chairman of the Parliament of Iran, Ali Larijani. Larijani spoke of wanting to boost inter-parliamentary cooperation with Georgia, stating that the Friendship Groups would play a big part in this regard. He further added that political exchanges would bring both countries closer, amid highly volatile conditions.
“New and fossil energies, scientific relations, economic cooperation and good transportation, and the exchange of experiences in legislation with the objective of facilitating foreign investment attraction are areas where we could immediately go into action in implementation of the agreements,” Larijani said, emphasizing the ‘favorable grounds’ that already exist for both Iran and Georgia to further expand ties between the countries.
Iran’s Parliamentary speaker continued that nuclear deals with world powers opened new opportunities to improve relations between Georgia and Iran.
“Now, fresh horizons are open to both countries; with growing contacts between the parliaments and governments of both countries, Iran and Georgia would see facilitated trade, and more open and unregulated Chambers of Commerce activities in path to more extensive economic relations,” Larijani noted.
Currently, the trade circulation between the two countries constitutes 200 ml. annually. Iran supposes that the successful trade relations with Georgia will be further enhanced, to eventually reach 2 bl.
In response, Gubaz Sanikidze, pointed out Georgia’s long history of relations with Iran and said: “Parliaments enjoy high levels of ties and the Friendship Group would contribute to the improvement in attempts to facilitate bilateral ties, which the present seeks to address.”
During the visit Georgian MPs also held meetings with the Deputy-Foreign Minister of Iran. The Iranian diplomat stated that Official Tehran supports and will support the territorial integrity of Georgia, adding that “the deeds launched by the Parliaments shall be successfully accomplished by the Governments.” The two sides spoke of regional security, energy projects and cooperation in water sphere.
The MPs met with the Vice-President of Iran on cultural heritage and folk arts issues. Sanikidze raised the issue of the exchange of archaeological delegations. The Georgian delegation also went on a tour of the Museum of Parliamentary History in the Parliament of Iran.
During the visit, Georgian and Iranian sides agreed on the opening of cultural centres in Georgia and Iran. The Iranian spokesman said: “we with a high pace will try to develop touristic infrastructure to, deriving from our new reality, be ready for the tourist inflow to Iran from Asia and Caucasia. The Georgian experience is of high importance for us.”
Nino Japarashvili