Joint projects with Iran

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33445, 29 January 1974, Page 17

Joint projects with Iran

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) ST. MORITZ (Switzerland), Jan. 28. The West German Economics Minister (Mr Hans Friderichs) discussed “new ideas” on industrial cooperation—including plans to build the world’s largest oil refinery in South Iran — in a surprise new meeting with the Shah of Iran last night.

Dr Friderichs was origin-1 ally to leave the fashionable! winter resort of St Moritz yesterday afternoon after a 24-hour round of talks with the Shah, holidaying there, and his Finance Minister (Mr Jamshid Amouzegar) and the Economics Minister (Mr Hushang Ansari). But in what was expected to be a final session with Mr Ansari after lunch some “new ideas” came up on the refinery and other co-opera-tion projects, a West German spokesman said, and Dr Friderichs postponed his departure until this morning to discuss these further with the Shah. The Minister and the Iranian ruler, accompanied by Mr Ansari, met for just over 50 minutes at the Shah’s luxurious grey stone villa on a mountainside above St Moritz. The spokesman declined to give any details on] the talks, but said that the; atmosphere was "very good.”; The spokesman did not enlarge on the new ideas except to say they included “variations” which could be undertaken in some of 22 joint industrial projects discussed during the visit of Dr) Friderichs in preparation for aj full-scale bilateral conference; on industrial co-operation in ; Iran next May. As well as the SUS 1000 m refinery to be built at Bu-j shire, south Iran, and a related chemical complex, the new ideas also dealt with a tripartite scheme to pipe!

I natural gas to West Ger- ! many. Under this project West Germany would either re-; ceive the gas directly from! Iran or from the Soviet) Union. Dr Friderichs will meet Mr Ansari over breakfast tomorrow and is expected to leave for Bonn soon afterwards.