; "Whether Daylight To Be Thrown on Armenian-Iranian Deal on Pastures")
; "Whether Daylight To Be Thrown on Armenian-Iranian Deal on Pastures")
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; "Whether Daylight To Be Thrown on Armenian-Iranian Deal on Pastures")
EcoLur
EcoLur publishes to documents concealed from the public in regard with the Armenian-Iranian cooperation about the allocation of land areas in Syunik region for leasing to Iranian province named East Azerbaijan.
The issue of leasing land areas of Syunik to Iranian Azerbaijan increasingly becomes more and more topical, particularly if to take into account the disclaimers by the Syunik regional administration. Recently zham.am web site has published an article entitled “Municipality: Issue of Leasing Syunik Land Areas Not Agreed with Official Bodies” dated on 31.01.2013. Public Relations Department states, “Armenian-Iranian Interdepartmental Committee held mutual visits at regional level at its 11th meeting (to Syunik Region and East Azerbaijan). A memorandum was signed in the course of this meeting, maybe on probable cooperation, including possible use of the land areas of Syunik Region. At present this issue is in the process of examination. There is no signed agreement between the Syunik regional administration and Islamic Republic of Iran in regard with the lease of pastures and agricultural land areas…”
EcoLur got two documents, which we present to our readers. The first document is entitled “Memorandum of Understanding between Syunik Region of RA and Province of East Azerbaijan of IRI” signed by Syunik Regional head Suren Khachatryan and East Azerbaijan Province head Alireza Beigi in Goris on 10.07.2012, which consists of 13 clauses. We will draw your attention to Clause 3, which says, “The Iranian party expresses its willingness to use the pastures and agricultural land areas of Syunik. An arrangement was reached to transfer the information about pastures and agricultural land areas and existing territories to the Iranian party.” Then comes Clause 11, which says, “The Iranian party expresses its willingness to organize a joint enterprise on the slaughter of animals in Goris and Sisian areas of Syunik Region and to involve the Armenian party in providing information.”
The second document was signed on 15 January 2013 in the course of Armenian delegation’s visit to the Province of East Azerbaijan of IRI. This document is already more specific and is entitled “Agreement”. “With a reference to the Memorandum of Understanding between Syunik Region of RA and Province of East Azerbaijan of IRI,in the course of Armenian delegation’s visit to the Province of East Azerbaijan of IRI and discussions among stakeholders, the representatives of agriculture delegation expressed their willingness and signed the Agreement on Transportation of Farm Livestock on the following conditions:
1. … The Iranian party is ready to transport farm livestock and to perform pasture in the square of a minimum of 50,000 ha…
2. …The term is a minimum of 10 years…and the territory is for those who will perform activities in a minimum of 2000 ha…
3. …For the proposals of the Armenian party to visit pastures and with the consent of the Iranian party, term for visits is set up.
4. …The Armenian Center controls problems connected with animal health…
5. …The Armenian party is offered an annual rental fee of US for 1 ha with less payment at the initial stage…
6. … The Armenian party has accepted the proposal on the initial rental duration of 5 tears with further prolongation for 10 years…
7. …The Armenian party has proposed to realize daily products in Iran with the establishment of a joint enterprise.
This document was signed by Samvel Tangyan responsible for administration of agriculture in Syunik Region and General Director of Union of Cooperatives of Province of East Azerbaijan Gorbam Feizi.
This means the process has been launched and they will attempt to implement at the local level to avoid any extra publicity. In this case it’s rather interesting whether pastures and agricultural land areas have been purchased from individual citizens and communities in Syunik region in a wide-scale range. If this is proved, it’s not excluded that the deal may be concluded between an individual and Iranian businessman, which is prohibited by the Armenian law. The problem in question is only scales and who stands behind these scales.
February 01, 2013 at 13:18