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Iran Foreign Minister Kharrazi in India to Discuss Cooperation
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Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi
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By
IOL South Asia Correspondent
NEW
DELHI, May 21 (IslamOnline) – The Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal
Kharrazi is in India to discuss ways and means to tackle the problem
of terrorism and explore the possibilities of cooperation in energy,
information technology and other key sectors including the ambitious
North-South Corridor which will link East with West through Iran.
Kharrazi
will participate in the two-day 12th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM)
which will continue Tuesday, May 21. India is trying to enlist Iran's
support in its current tussle with Islamabad. According to Indian
media reports, the Iranian minister expressed his
"understanding" of the Indian stand. Officially Iran has not
commented on the issue and has advised both sides to "show
restraint."
During
wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of
mutual interest, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh explained to
the Iranian minister the current Indo-Pak tension besides discussing
the latest developments in Afghanistan including reconstruction of the
war-ravaged country.
The
two sides agreed to expedite work on the North-South trade corridor
which will link India with Russia through Iran to give trade with
Europe a boost.
The
two sides identified energy, information technology, automobiles,
telecom, small-scale industry, petrochemicals, textiles, railways and
certain other sectors for cooperation.
India
is pushing for enhanced cooperation in the non-oil sector which has
great potential for growth. In the non-oil sector, India exports to
Iran goods worth US$ 340 million while Iran exports to India non-oil
goods worth $214 million a year at present.
According
to F. Entezari, president of the India-Iran Joint Business Council,
who is visiting India at present, the thrust areas could cover
products like carpets, handicrafts, dry fruits, iron and steel,
aluminum, agro-based products, chemicals, optical equipment,
fertilizers, and industry machinery from the Iranian side, and rice,
sugar, pharmaceuticals, edible oil, engineering goods and textile
machinery from the Indian side.
The
two sides are studying ways to cooperate in the reconstruction of
Afghanistan. India and Iran would sign a Memoranda of Understanding
today at the conclusion of the JCW.
They
also discussed the proposed pipeline from Iran to India for supply of
natural gas. The issue whether the pipeline should come via Pakistan
or should be under water is currently under consideration.
While
Iran is pressing for the land route and has convinced Pakistan to take
part in it, India is apprehensive of long-term dependence on an energy
source which could possibly be throttled by its arch rival. Pakistan
is said to be keen that the pipeline goes through its territory for it
will ensure annual concession fees of around $600 million a year, a
great boon for Islamabad's economy.
The
land route pipeline will be 2600-kilometer-long and will cost around
$3.5 billion while the sea route will cost around 10-12 billion
dollars. Each state will bear the cost within its borders: Iran will
spend $1.8 billion for 1100 kilometers within its territory, Pakistan
will spend 1.2 billion dollars on 707 kilometers within its borders
while India will spend 650 million dollars to extend the pipeline from
its borders with Pakistan to Gujarat on the west coast. On the other
hand, India will have to shell out 70 percent of the cost of the sea
route since it will have to bear the expenses of laying the line in
international waters.
During
recent years India has cultivated good relations with Iran. The Indian
Prime Minster AB Vajpayee paid a state visit to Iran in April 2001.
A
30-member Iranian trade delegation headed by ANS Khamoushi, president
of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, is also touring India at present and
meeting officials and business community leaders.
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