By Vestnik Kavkaza
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition Ahmad Jarba in Paris yesterday ahead of the international conference on Syria Geneva-2. This week, Lavrov is due to meet the Special Envoy of the UN and the Arab League on Syria, Lahdar Brahimi, the Foreign minister of France Laurent Fabius, the Foreign Minister of Jordan Naser Joda, and the Secretary of State of the USA Jhon Kerry.
Rajab Safarov, the Director General of the Center for Studies of Modern Iran, considers that “the USA cannot get rid of direct serious pressure by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Persian Gulf monarchies which are not interested in settlement of the Syrian issue. A resolution of the Syrian crisis will improve “the Shiah arc” which is a bomb, an end of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf monarchies. That’s why they use any opportunity to prevent settlement of the Syrian problem. They are not interested in stability in the region, as any stability means small chances for management and solving problems of international politics by means of several countries.”
Speaking about possible participation of Tehran in Geneva-2, Safarov said: “It is nonsense to hold the conference without Iran. The Middle East problem wasn’t settled in a due time because such an important regional player as Iran didn’t take part in it.”
Safarov told Vestnik Kavkaza about some other problems of Iran.
- What benefits make Iran strive to join the WTO?
- Iran intends to be a normal member of the international society not only in settlement of political issues, but also in providing normal trade and economic, financial, and business life and cooperation with all countries of the international society. The WTO is an important and attractive organization. If Iran joins the organization, many problems which cannot be solved now will be somehow minimized. At the same time, the WTO will encourage foreign and international companies to come to the Iranian market; they will be free from double taxation and other burdens. Today they cannot enter the Iranian market directly. I believe that in this case Iran intends to provide normal business and trade cooperation with countries of the world; and Tehran has no hidden motives. If Iran becomes a member of the WTO, it will be beneficial for all the countries which border Iran and have normal economic ties with the country.
- What are the obstacles Iran faces on its path to the WTO?
- The WTO membership is decided by consensus, but many states don’t want to see Iran in the organization. They don’t want Iran to prosper and develop rapidly. The WTO solves many problems in the sphere of taxes, insurance deals, transparency of all trade operation, and healthy competition. It is comfortable to be a member of the organization, as it has united standards. Different factors act under common rules – resources, potential, hardworking, and a desire to compete with countries of the international society. From this point of view Iran differs from others positively, as it has beneficial positions in many spheres – rather cheap labour force, cheap energy resources, a great number of workers, favorable weather conditions. All these factors make the country a serious competitor and a big power in the world trade.
However, the problem is that our rivals don’t want Iranian expansion into the world space. Turkey and Europe don’t want it because they don’t want Iranian goods at their markets, which are cheaper and of high quality, and more environmentally friendly.
There are many obstacles, but sooner or later they will be eliminated because there is no other way, and the country is moving toward the WTO. This is necessary for many states.
- What is the reason for the current gas crisis in Iran?
- This year Iran has record cold winter. Iran is the second country after Russia in oil and gas resources. Almost 13% of the world resources are situated in Iran. But Iran produces a limited volume of gas – about 115 billion cubic meters annually. The gas is internally consumed, and a tiny part of it is exported to Armenia. At the same time Iran exports gas to other countries through Turkey. However, in fact Iran demands the gas.
The problem of severe cold and frosts raised energy consumption radically and cased the difficult situation. I think in the nearest future it will be solved. And the problem will be final in the sphere in Iran, as soon technological and infrastructural bases for development of gas industry of Iran will be founded, and in the next three year Iran will triple volumes of produced gas. Iran will turn into a serious gas exporter in the world. It is at a verge of technological and economic breakthrough on producing and export of its natural gas.
