Baku, Azerbaijan, May 7
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the water sector.
The fourth meeting of the Iran-Russia joint working group on water management was held in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on May 7.
The two sides signed an MOU to boost cooperation in implementing joint projects related to underground water resources management, as well as development, engineering, and consultation services.
They also discussed issues such as drying of the Lake Urmia and also climate change in the Caspian Sea region.
The implementation of Iran-Russia energy agreements holds the key to expansion of bilateral relations in other economic spheres, Tehran's Ambassador to Moscow, Mehdi Sanaei said on April 25.
At a meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow, Mehdi Sanaei underlined the importance of the current year for promotion of Iran-Russia cooperation and called for the implementation of oil, gas and electricity deals signed between the two sides, according to Press TV.
Sanaei also expressed Tehran's willingness to purchase electricity from Russia and use the country's assistance in the construction of thermal power plants and renovation of two power stations in central and southwestern Iran.
Novak, who heads the Russian side of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission, pointed to President Vladimir Putin's determination to implement the bilateral agreements with Iran.
He noted that Russia's Foreign Ministry has adopted the required measures in that respect and is making the arrangements for a visit by a Russian delegation to Iran and the drafting of a memorandum of understanding for the 11th meeting of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission in Tehran.
Iran-Russia trade currently totals $5 billion a year, but economists say the two countries can at least quadruple the volume of their trade exchanges.