“Everything Is Set for Iran and Russia to Economically Cooperate,” States Russia’s Consul General in Isfahan

Following the election of President Hassan Rouhani in Iran, the ties between Iran and Russia have stepped onto a totally new level, whereas the expansion of NATO interference, Ukraine’s crisis and the tensions with the US have clouded the sky of Russian politics. Iran strives to create a new economic-political atmosphere in its relations with the West by working out its nuclear case, and, along with Russia, seeks to boost the foundations of their policies when facing the existing loopholes, including those given life to by the US. To obtain a deeper look into the political and economic ties of Iran and Russia, we held an interview with the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Isfahan.

AVA Diplomatic’s Exclusive Interview with

Mr. Evgeniy Kulish, the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Isfahan

 Prior to your appointment as Russia’s Consul General in Iran, you were in charge of the consulate affairs of the Russian Federation in Afghanistan. How long did that take?

My mission began in 2004 and lasted until 2009. After Afghanistan, I went to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia for a while and then came here to Tehran.

It has been a year here for me now in Isfahan, or as you would call it “Half of the World”, as the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

Before Afghanistan, where did you work?

I worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs serving as the First Secretary, Second Secretary and consultant.

You are one of those diplomats who started their service at the time of the Soviet Union. Would you explain more about this?

Sure. After graduating from the Faculty of Foreign Languages, I was selected to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.

Was the language you studied Persian (Farsi)?

Yes, Farsi and Dari.

So, that is why you speak Farsi so well.

That is kind of you. However, apart from these two, I studied Pashto, too.

Did you study in Saint Petersburg or Moscow?

Moscow.

There is some kind of competition between the students of Farsi, Dari and Pashto in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. Am I right?

You are. But the University of Moscow enjoys better qualities while compared to that of Saint Petersburg.

You were eventually appointed the Consul General of Russia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Iran. What was your top priority when you first came here?

As I more worked at the Consular section, I was mostly focused on defending the rights of Russian citizens. As you know, because the consular section is in charge of issuing visas, I am engaged in that area, too.

During my time here, many Iranian citizens came to receive visas to Russia, not just to visit Moscow, but to have a tour in Saint Petersburg, and so, they managed to travel to Russia.

How do you see the trend of visiting Russia among the Iranian people?

In Moscow, we have a historical street, named the Arbat. When at the Foreign Ministry, once I went out for lunch and a large tourist crowd caught my attention. When I looked more carefully, I noticed that a large proportion of them were Iranian tourists.

When I came to Tehran as Consul General, I realized the number of Iranians who want to visit Russia had surged, but after a while, due to the imposition of sanctions, the trend descended. The number later rose, though. For instance, the number of applicants in Isfahan has almost doubled now.

Do you have any exact number or estimate?

Approximately, in March-June 2014, we issued an average of 3000 visas.

Would you please tell us more about different types of visas?

The tourism visa is issued by travel agencies and usually lasts 15-30 days. I know most of the managers of these agencies, for they come to us in Isfahan because of the heavy load of work of the Russian Embassy in Tehran and we cooperate with them to have their needed visas worked out.

How much does a tourist visa to Russia cost?

Roughly $60.

But the numbers I saw when I first came here were somehow higher than this, standing at almost $300 or so.

What you noted back there relates to some long-term visa for like 6 months to one full year to Russia. For instance, a one-year visa costs you nearly $200.

Your port of call covers Esfahan, Kerman and Yazd, but, unfortunately, many do not know about those other cities. To make cultural exchanges between the two countries possible there needs to be visits by cultural committees therefrom. What are your plans in that regard?

You are right. Our jurisdiction extends through these three provinces. But I should inform you that 10 years ago, in 2004, Isfahan and Saint Petersburg signed an agreement which made them sister cities.

Moreover, last year, a large committee from Isfahan visited Saint Petersburg and held a cultural week of Isfahan there.

This year, too, a committee headed by Mr. Agoy Pantrakov, the chairman of the Committee for Culture of the Municipality of Saint Petersburg, is scheduled to travel to Isfahan. Their plans are to meet the mayor of Isfahan and the commercial and social representatives of the city.

On a note about the agreement between Isfahan and Saint Petersburg, do you have any other plans to practice, such as participating in the subway project?

I heard the building of subway in Isfahan has taken about 16 years. My predecessor had offered the cooperation of Russian experts many times, but each time the municipality decided to leave it to the Chinese. That is why I cannot candidly talk about it now. I, however, officially announce here that Russia is always ready to cooperate in the fields of building and developing subway systems in Iran.

What about other areas such as public transportation and auto industry?

I hope for every field to become possible to work in once the 5-year agreement is signed and practiced.

You are also facing challenges which may harden everything for you, like the crash of Antonov which was assembled in Isfahan. How do you deal with this?

I should say that the mother company manufacturing Antonov is a large factory based in Ukraine, and because the ties are cut between Russia and Ukraine, the relations between Russia’s Antonov and Urkaine’s are now halted, too. The engine of this plane used to be built in Ukraine and Russia produced its body, but the President has seriously stressed that the engine should be built in Russia as well.

In addition to plane industry, how are other areas working out?

In Yazd province, Russia is now in business with tile making companies. Yazd and Novosibirsk are closely working together, and Iranian tile makers get their needed boric acid from there.

How are the economic ties of Esfahan, Kerman and Yazd with the Russian Federation?

As you may know, the trades between the two countries do not count for much in last year. But on August 5, an MOU was signed which aims at enhancing trade levels up to a new standard, maybe double.

Given the agreement signed by the Russian Energy Minister on his trip here, fertile grounds will be prepared for economic and cultural collaborations.

A positive side of the agreement relates to the agreeable energy and power fields ready to be worked on. The building of railroads have been recommended, too.

In tourism industry, Russia is a seasoned country. Isfahan, too, is considered to be a tourism pole in Iran. Can experiences be transferred through mutual cooperation between Russia and Isfahan?

Sure, when the official committee of Saint Petersburg comes here, there shall absolutely be a panel to exchange viewpoints which definitely contributes to the tourism industry in both places.

An important point here is the fact that the Russian Consulate in Isfahan is located in one of the monuments of the city. In fact, you are preserving a historical building, so to speak.

Yeah, that’s true. We have plans for that, too.

Every year, a delegate is sent to the Consulate to assess the buildings of the Consulate and my private residence to make necessary and preservative arrangements for them.

Next year, we have plans to conduct considerable maintenance in the building and there shall be proper budget for it, no doubt.

In gold industry, Isfahan has been a leading city all through the history. Have you had a chance to stay in close contact with this area? What about rug making workshops?

What catches our eyes more is the hand- and automatically-woven rugs. We have recommended that an exhibition of handicrafts be held in Saint Petersburg next year.

On a note about the two countries’ cooperation, I should refer to the power plant of Shahid Montazeri which was built in cooperation with Russia. Would you explain more about it?

Yeah, right. A number of Russian experts are working there at the moment having just finished installing a new turbine.

Their manager has invited the Consulate to visit the plant and be informed about the kind and level of their activities. I know the head of these contractors very well, for we had worked together in Afghanistan before.

Where would the new plant be located? The one Russia has signed an agreement for.

The logistics have been determined, but not confirmed yet. I cannot comment on that issue for the time being. All I can say is that we will participate more in steel industry here.

We have a professional college in Moscow where steel-making machinery is designed and manufactured, and it has offered Isfahan’s Zob-Ahan factory a number of its machineries.

Isfahan’s Zob-Ahan is built in cooperation with Russia itself.

That is right. The first steel-producing company was built in Isfahan 40 years ago by the Russians.

Given the sanctions against the Russian Federation, is a barter deal foreseeable between Iran and Russia?

In terms of the west-backed sanctions, Iran and Russia go under the same entry. Under current circumstances, if Iran begins using the existing potentials, it can thwart the sanctions. For example, Iran can sell Russia oil and gas and gets ruble in return. However, I do not personally know the details to that process.

Russia is an oil exporter itself; why should it want to buy Iran’s oil?

The Minister of Energy of Russia promised Iran that Russia can buy its oil and sell it in other international markets.

As a point of fact, you are saying that Russia can middle the trade of oil for Iran?

That is what I am saying, yes.

Following the sanctions on Russia, the export of some agricultural products and fruits have been curbed. Have there been consultations in this regard?

I have heard that too. I also heard that Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture has a plan to provide the needed fruits and vegetables from Iran and some European states like Poland.

I intend to point to the nuclear facility in Natanz. Isn’t there any word for a new nuclear site to be established in cooperation with Russia?

I do not know anything about this. But I can say the use of peaceful nuclear energy has been discussed by the two Presidents.

As a diplomat, do you think the nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1 will come to fruition?

I think so. When the talks were being conducted in New York, one of our consultants bore witness to them and said no tangible progress was made, but there is a plan which, they hope, can bring them substantial success in the upcoming rounds.

If you have any final word now, we would be glad to hear it.

I would just like to thank you for your presence in Isfahan and the interview. Thank you.