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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Teheran Forgives Kyiv For Bushehr Unpleasantness

23 March, 1999 - 00:00

By Victor ZAMYATIN, The Day
Iran has been angry with Ukraine for exactly a year for its refusal under
US pressure to supply turbines to the Bushehr nuclear power plant, now
under construction.

"A certain pause" in the relations, according to Ukrainian Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr Maidannyk, has ended with the visit of Iran's
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Morteza Sarmadi. The visit does not
mean, however, that Ukraine will soon receive a steady stream of Iranian
oil: Mr. Sarmadi said that in order to negotiate this concretely we need
to finish the construction of the Odesa terminal. In addition, the Iranian
deputy oil minister will also soon be visiting Kyiv.

Mr. Sarmadi said that Iran had come to the conclusion that the Bushehr
issue is a matter for discussion between Ukraine and Russia, the latter
also being a party to the Iranian contract. This is why he came to remind
us that Iran was interested in purchasing Ukrainian oil and gas equipment
and railroad cars, making Ukrainian-licensed aircraft (the first Iranian-made
An-140 is expected roll off the line in six months), inviting Ukrainian
geologists, as well as selling some of its goods on the Ukrainian market.
Iran is also "a factor of security and peace in the region" (although the
US is not sure of this, still blacklisting Iran) and currently chairs the
Islamic Conference.

It appears that the Ukraine-Turkmenistan-Iran triangle, stillborn and
dead for three years, might also be resuscitated. But, to do so, the parties
should solve the problems of interbank payments.

Iran can also support Ukraine in its plans for a seat on the UN Security
Council, involve Kyiv in closer cooperation with Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
and receive Chornobyl-affected children for recuperation.

Statistics claim over 100 Ukrainian enterprises have now concluded contracts
worth a total of $900 million with Iran (the aircraft factory contract
comes to about $300 million). Perhaps the development of economic ties
is the best diplomacy.

 

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