TEHRAN, Sept. 30 (Mehr News Agency) — Energy Minister Parviz Fattah said on Saturday Iran would finalize a contract with Armenia to construct a dam in Aras by the end of the current Iranian year, falling on March 20, 2007.

Speaking at the sideline of a meeting with Armenian Energy Minister in Yerevan, Fattah said that studies conducted on construction of a dam over Aras River has finished. Iran and Armenian have reached the agreement to jointly build the dam, and they will finalize the contract by March 2007, he reiterated.

The minister further said that construction operations of the dam are to be launched in 2007. "The joint construction of Aras Dam will have great impact on the development of bilateral political and economic ties."

He also stated that Iran's gas conveyance pipe to Armenia will come on stream by March 2007.