OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT AND
MARINE AFFAIRS, FRANOIS GOULARD

STATEMENT BY THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON

FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

June 18, 2004

Excerpts

 

The Secretary of State for Transport and Marine Affairs, Franois Goulard, will leave for Teheran on Sunday for an official visit marking the resumption of Air France flights to Iran. He will be accompanied by a delegation of businessmen and will be received by Iranian Transport Minister Ahmed Khorram.

The resumption of Air France flights to Iran underscores France's commitment to the development of our relations with this country. Iran is an important economic partner of France with which bilateral trade has grown rapidly over the past few years: in 2003 exports climbed a third, exceeding two billion euros, and that resulted in our 11th trade surplus with Iran.

The reciprocal agreement to encourage and protect investments, signed in May 2003 and now approved in both countries, will establish a more favorable legal framework for our companies' activities in Iran once it goes into force in July.

The increase in trade attests to the dynamism of the Iranian economy. The visit by the secretary of state comes in this context; it will enable us in particular to deepen our existing cooperation in the air transport, rail and maritime sectors.

...

 

Q - Do you know when the flights were suspended?

 

They were suspended in September 1997.

 

Q - What was the step related to?  

To the slowdown in the economic picture, and that is why I insisted just now on the rapid development of trade between France and Iran. It warrants more travel by businessmen and delegations. Airlines operate in the market and when business is booming, so are flights.