TEHRAN, Dec. 23 (Shana) � Russian energy firm Gazprom�s deputy chairman of the Management Committee Alexander Medvedev said Iran�s newly-introduced oil and gas contract models (IPC) have contributed to his country�s developing a new vision about the Islamic Republic�s contracts.

�Neighborhood of Iran and Russia considering their hold on strategic gas resources as well as determination of the two countries� political leadership are significant reasons which can create appropriate opportunities in their bilateral relations,� he said at a meeting here with Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Hamid-Reza Araqi.

�Gazprom has useful and precious experience in various fields of the gas industry and can provide them to the NIGC,� he added.

�We are interested in turning the initial agreements to a memorandum of understanding which can be signed next year,� Medvedev said.

�It is evident that the world needs gas and that Iran and Russia can use such a rich capacity to pursue their joint objectives in this field,� NIGC managing director said following the meeting.

�NIGC has considerable experience, for example, in construction of gas pipelines, storage facilities, and gas refineries and can cooperate with Gazprom in these areas,� he said.

The two delegations were planned to negotiate implementation of agreements reached on joint engineering, operation, commercial, and research projects, said NIGC director of international relations, Azizollah Ramezani.

�NIGC and Gazprom will hold several rounds of talks to review cooperation areas under five committees,� he said prior to the first round of meetings with the 25-member Russian delegation.

 

By SHANA