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MEDVEDEV'S REMARKS ON ARMENIA AND CONNECTIVITY
Hurriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/medvedevs-remarks-on-armenia-and-connectivity.aspx?pageID=238&nID=8338&NewsCatID=40 3
Dec 2 2011
Turkey
What do Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Bulgaria
and Romania have in common?
They are all members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization, (BSEC) which was established in 1992. The BSEC does not
serve its purpose well, if you ask me. Its member states' economies
differ in their structure and levels of development.
Their only common denominator is that none of them are connected, not
to each other, and not to the world. This is true for Central Asian
countries as well. I've lately been thinking about the importance of
connectivity for regional economic and social transformation.
That, I believe, is what the Black Sea region needs as well. So you
will understand that I was pleased to hear President Dmitry Medvedev's
remarks on the need to build up the physical and virtual infrastructure
of Armenia. That is truly the country where dialogue on connectivity
should start.
Let me start by underlining President Medvedev's remarks. When asked
about Russian investment plans in Armenia in October 2011, he said:
"We realize how important infrastructure projects are to our Armenian
friends - both real and virtual infrastructure. ... We hope that
through our joint efforts and with the help of other countries, we
will help Armenia build a more modern and perhaps even completely
new communications system."
There are three aspects outlining a new regional cooperation framework
in these comments.
First, the president is talking about projects connecting Armenia
internally and externally. A very good idea. Second, Russia owns
the railway system in Armenia, so all infrastructure projects for
Armenia have to be planned in Moscow. That means that Mr. Medvedev is
not just talking, he actually has the capacity to deliver. Even more
significant. Third, he talks about the involvement of other countries.
Connecting Armenia to the region and the world should be a policy
priority for Turkey as well. For Turkey, a strong land connection
between Armenia and Azerbaijan would mean access to the Russian market
and beyond. Container trains today could mean pipelines tomorrow.
Definitely a great idea.
Connectivity is a game changer in regional economic and social
transformation. In the past, only rivers could bring inland
connectivity. The United States was very fortunate in that regard.
Today, connectivity requires infrastructure: roads, railway networks,
airports, seaports, telecommunication facilities.
These are meticulously designed transport corridors. Now, Turkey
has tremendous problems finding any of these to its north. We need
to design intermodal transport networks in the Black Sea region to
pave the way for more interaction and fully deploy our capabilities
across our neighborhood. Economies change through interaction.
Changing a country's basket of consumption goods is the starting
point of changing its economic structure. And when you export goods,
you also start exporting industries. So looking across the Black
Sea region, I think that our different, and thereby complementary,
economic structures are really a blessing.
As a naive economist, I strongly believe that we are living in an
age in which we can create a more conducive atmosphere by connecting
communities through joint welfare-enhancing projects. Whether they
are simmering or frozen, all conflicts can be dealt with in a more
conducive atmosphere. Connectivity is good.
From: A. Papazian
Hurriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/medvedevs-remarks-on-armenia-and-connectivity.aspx?pageID=238&nID=8338&NewsCatID=40 3
Dec 2 2011
Turkey
What do Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Bulgaria
and Romania have in common?
They are all members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization, (BSEC) which was established in 1992. The BSEC does not
serve its purpose well, if you ask me. Its member states' economies
differ in their structure and levels of development.
Their only common denominator is that none of them are connected, not
to each other, and not to the world. This is true for Central Asian
countries as well. I've lately been thinking about the importance of
connectivity for regional economic and social transformation.
That, I believe, is what the Black Sea region needs as well. So you
will understand that I was pleased to hear President Dmitry Medvedev's
remarks on the need to build up the physical and virtual infrastructure
of Armenia. That is truly the country where dialogue on connectivity
should start.
Let me start by underlining President Medvedev's remarks. When asked
about Russian investment plans in Armenia in October 2011, he said:
"We realize how important infrastructure projects are to our Armenian
friends - both real and virtual infrastructure. ... We hope that
through our joint efforts and with the help of other countries, we
will help Armenia build a more modern and perhaps even completely
new communications system."
There are three aspects outlining a new regional cooperation framework
in these comments.
First, the president is talking about projects connecting Armenia
internally and externally. A very good idea. Second, Russia owns
the railway system in Armenia, so all infrastructure projects for
Armenia have to be planned in Moscow. That means that Mr. Medvedev is
not just talking, he actually has the capacity to deliver. Even more
significant. Third, he talks about the involvement of other countries.
Connecting Armenia to the region and the world should be a policy
priority for Turkey as well. For Turkey, a strong land connection
between Armenia and Azerbaijan would mean access to the Russian market
and beyond. Container trains today could mean pipelines tomorrow.
Definitely a great idea.
Connectivity is a game changer in regional economic and social
transformation. In the past, only rivers could bring inland
connectivity. The United States was very fortunate in that regard.
Today, connectivity requires infrastructure: roads, railway networks,
airports, seaports, telecommunication facilities.
These are meticulously designed transport corridors. Now, Turkey
has tremendous problems finding any of these to its north. We need
to design intermodal transport networks in the Black Sea region to
pave the way for more interaction and fully deploy our capabilities
across our neighborhood. Economies change through interaction.
Changing a country's basket of consumption goods is the starting
point of changing its economic structure. And when you export goods,
you also start exporting industries. So looking across the Black
Sea region, I think that our different, and thereby complementary,
economic structures are really a blessing.
As a naive economist, I strongly believe that we are living in an
age in which we can create a more conducive atmosphere by connecting
communities through joint welfare-enhancing projects. Whether they
are simmering or frozen, all conflicts can be dealt with in a more
conducive atmosphere. Connectivity is good.
From: A. Papazian