ID :
207970
Mon, 09/19/2011 - 09:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207970
The shortlink copeid
MPs Blame US for Indian Back-off from Iran Pipeline Project
TEHRAN (FNA)- India stepped down the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project due to the pressures exerted by the United States, two Iranian legislators said, but further expressed the hope that New Delhi would return to the talks.
"Certain countries influenced India on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project," said parliament members Assadollah Abbasi and Ramezan Shojaee who are in New Delhi to participate in a seminar on 'Preventing and Responding to Violence against Women'.
Meantime, the two lawmakers expressed the hope that New Delhi would return to the talks with Iran and Pakistan.
They further lauded India for not imposing sanctions against Tehran despite "pressure" from several quarters, including the US.
"It seems certain countries out of the region influenced (India) and are trying to scuttle the project which is an important one for all the three countries. We are importing a lot of things from India. India should reciprocate," said Abbasi, who is a vice-chairman of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) group at the Iranian Parliament.
Abbasi said the agreement was almost ready when there was a "sudden slowdown" of movement from the Indian side.
"We are with India and we want India to join the project. It will be in the interest of India. We recognize India as an important economic power in the Asian region," he said.
Echoing Abbasi's views, Shojaee said though "some powers" are influencing India, it should join the IPI project which would strengthen ties between the countries.
The MPs pitched for greater trade, economic and cultural ties between India and Iran.
Asked about the US and other countries urging India to impose economic sanctions on Iran, Abbasi said India's policies on other countries have always been independent.
"India is a very strong political and economic power. Its policies have always been independent and we hope India will continue to be like that," he said.
On this issue, Shojaee appreciated India's stand on sanctions against Iran and hoped that it would not succumb to pressure from other countries.
"India is an influential country. We appreciate it's stand and hope the country remains independent (on its policies) as it has always been," he said.
The MP, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Cultural Affairs, pitched for stronger ties between the two countries in the areas of tourism, arts, cinema, crafts and trade. The two countries should explore more opportunities, he said.
Indian and Pakistani officials also announced in 2009 that they had resolved almost all bilateral issues including transit fee which saw New Delhi boycotting IPI pipeline talks for about a year.
In June, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who met New Delhi's Oil Minister Murli Deora said that the two sides have resolved all bilateral issues.
India more or less agreed to give Pakistan a transit fee of $200 million per year, which is equivalent to $0.60 per million British thermal unit for allowing passage of the pipeline through that country.
India and Pakistan finally agreed in February 2007 to pay Iran $4.93 per million British thermal units ($4.67/GJ) but some details relating to price adjustment remained open to further negotiation.
But later, India left the talks once again and made Iran and Pakistan to go ahead with the project alone.
"Certain countries influenced India on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project," said parliament members Assadollah Abbasi and Ramezan Shojaee who are in New Delhi to participate in a seminar on 'Preventing and Responding to Violence against Women'.
Meantime, the two lawmakers expressed the hope that New Delhi would return to the talks with Iran and Pakistan.
They further lauded India for not imposing sanctions against Tehran despite "pressure" from several quarters, including the US.
"It seems certain countries out of the region influenced (India) and are trying to scuttle the project which is an important one for all the three countries. We are importing a lot of things from India. India should reciprocate," said Abbasi, who is a vice-chairman of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) group at the Iranian Parliament.
Abbasi said the agreement was almost ready when there was a "sudden slowdown" of movement from the Indian side.
"We are with India and we want India to join the project. It will be in the interest of India. We recognize India as an important economic power in the Asian region," he said.
Echoing Abbasi's views, Shojaee said though "some powers" are influencing India, it should join the IPI project which would strengthen ties between the countries.
The MPs pitched for greater trade, economic and cultural ties between India and Iran.
Asked about the US and other countries urging India to impose economic sanctions on Iran, Abbasi said India's policies on other countries have always been independent.
"India is a very strong political and economic power. Its policies have always been independent and we hope India will continue to be like that," he said.
On this issue, Shojaee appreciated India's stand on sanctions against Iran and hoped that it would not succumb to pressure from other countries.
"India is an influential country. We appreciate it's stand and hope the country remains independent (on its policies) as it has always been," he said.
The MP, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Cultural Affairs, pitched for stronger ties between the two countries in the areas of tourism, arts, cinema, crafts and trade. The two countries should explore more opportunities, he said.
Indian and Pakistani officials also announced in 2009 that they had resolved almost all bilateral issues including transit fee which saw New Delhi boycotting IPI pipeline talks for about a year.
In June, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who met New Delhi's Oil Minister Murli Deora said that the two sides have resolved all bilateral issues.
India more or less agreed to give Pakistan a transit fee of $200 million per year, which is equivalent to $0.60 per million British thermal unit for allowing passage of the pipeline through that country.
India and Pakistan finally agreed in February 2007 to pay Iran $4.93 per million British thermal units ($4.67/GJ) but some details relating to price adjustment remained open to further negotiation.
But later, India left the talks once again and made Iran and Pakistan to go ahead with the project alone.
