Transporting Gas Across Ukraine Is a Purely Economic Issue, Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeg-Bonab Is Convinced

We can say without exaggeration that the past two weeks of Ukraine’s foreign policy have been painted in Iranian colors. A high-level delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharrazi visited Ukraine the week before last, while Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko paid a visit to Iran. Finally, an An-140 airplane of joint Ukrainian-Iranian production made its maiden flight. The Bushehr incident, which seemed to have done irreparable harm to our cooperation, has by all accounts run its course. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Zlenko said during the Iranian delegation’s stay in Kyiv that from now on “Kyiv is taking a practical attitude toward further cooperation with Tehran.” The following interview granted to The Day by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ukraine Ahmad SADEG-BONAB deals with the prospects and results of Ukrainian-Iranian cooperation.

“On February 11 Iran observed the twenty-second anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the Shah’s rule. Would you assess the results?”

“Indeed, the Iranian people are currently celebrating the day of the Islamic Revolution carried out under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini. The revolution put an end to a 2500- year-long monarchic rule under which the oppressed people of Iran almost constantly suffered violence from the Shah’s tyrannical regime. The revolution freed the people from their shackles, ushering in a new epoch in the history of the millennia-old Iranian civilization. Naturally, it was not easy to win this revolution. Many Iranian thinkers, scientists, students, and schoolchildren sacrificed their lives for this revolution. The slogan of our revolution was Independence, Freedom, and Islamic Republic. The goal was to deepen and develop democracy, and to allow people to shape their destinies and take part in public governance. After the revolution, we have had over twenty elections over the past 22 years. I can say we are in the vanguard, compared to other countries, as far as elections are concerned. To enable as many people as possible to participate in elections, our parliament has set 16 years as the minimum voting age. In terms of the economy, we are making a great deal of effort to bring benefits to the Iranian people. Self-reliance remains the fundamental problem to be solved in both the industrial and agricultural spheres.”

“Self-reliance or isolation?”

“All we want is to make maximum use of our country’s capabilities. We should not think that a certain country wants to isolate itself from the outside world. On the contrary, I think all countries should maintain mutual understanding and close relations.”

“To what extent close are such relations with Ukraine? We can already draw some conclusions, the more so that diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Iran were established precisely nine years ago this month.”

“Iran was one of the first to recognize independent Ukraine. Political relations were established immediately thereafter and have been developing with each passing day. There were noticeable improvements in this process last year. The week before last Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko paid an official visit to Iran where he attended the maiden-flight ceremony of an An-140 aircraft built jointly with your country. Two weeks ago Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharrazi visited Kyiv. The head of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Ivan Pliushch is scheduled to visit Tehran in the next few days. All this testifies to a new stage in the development of our bilateral relations.”

“Does this mean Iran no longer raises claims on Ukraine for the Bushehr incident?”

“It should be noted that the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction contract was concluded between Iran and Russia. No relevant documents were signed with Kyiv. So there have never been any claims on Ukraine.”

“Absolutely?”

“Absolutely.”

“When Mr. Kharrazi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, visited Kyiv, the two sides discussed the transport of natural gas from Iran to Europe across the territory of Ukraine. Could you tell us about this more in detail?”

“Our country has large deposits of gas, ranking the world’s second according to this parameter. Naturally, Tehran will study various routes and options to export its gas. This is one of the most important problems which Ukraine can help us solve, because the Europe-bound gas line could run across your country. In addition, both sides have a desire to cooperate in this field and will thus set up task forces to study the gas transport issue.”

“Still, what other countries and companies might take part in this project?”

“This is what the task forces will decide. I say it again: there are various projects and routes. All of them will be considered.”

“Should the construction of this gas pipeline run counter to the interests of Russia, will Iran scrap its gas cooperation with Kyiv?”

“The transport of Iranian gas is a purely economic issue. Tehran will opt for the most cost-effective and competitive project.”

“Even if you have to compete with Russia?”

“Our project will be outside of competition.”

“Did the Ukrainian and Iranian delegations discuss cooperation in the military-industrial complex?”

“No, there was no question of this. They discussed the transport of gas and transit of goods, and signed a trade agreement envisioning an increased trade turnover. They also discussed industrial cooperation now being symbolized by the An-140.”

“Mr. Ambassador, you mentioned an increased trade turnover between Ukraine and Iran. Last year this turnover reached almost $100 million. But the import of Iranian goods accounts for fewer than 10% of this amount. What has caused this imbalance?”

“Your country mostly exports metals and mechanical engineering items to Iran. The second cause is that Ukraine is very little known in Iran. On the other hand, Ukraine does not know much about the Iranian commodity producer. To solve this problem, we recently set up our Trade and Economy Information Center in Kyiv.”

“Your country’s minister of foreign affairs, when visiting Kyiv, mentioned cooperation between the regions of Ukraine and Iran, namely, Esfahan and Kharkiv. Why Kharkiv, of all places?”

“This is the wish of not only Esfahan but also Kharkiv. Last year, when the foreign minister of Ukraine was visiting Esfahan, his delegation included the chairman of the Kharkiv Oblast Administration. It is at that time that the cooperation document was signed. Moreover, An-140 components are being produced in both Esfahan and Kharkiv, then brought together for final assembly. I hope this will only deepen the cooperation between Iran and Ukraine.”