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Global Insight
September 16, 2011
Armenia, Argentina Agree to Visa-Free Travel Regime to Boost Commercial Ties
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan
Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandian held a meeting with
Argentina's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto D'Alotto in the
Armenian capital Yerevan on 15 September. D'Alotto's delegation held
inter-agency consultations in Armenia aiming to explore new areas of
partnership in what is already rather solid commercial co-operation.
The new projects will enhance not only commercial but also political
and cultural ties. Armenia could benefit from closer
inter-parliamentary co-operation and especially the Argentine support
in international organisations. The parties signed an agreement
lifting visa requirement between the two countries.
Significance:Armenia and Argentina are not natural trading partners
given the geographic distance between the South Caucasian former
Soviet republic and the South American state. Nonetheless, the
countries developed very strong political and economic relations since
Armenia gained independence in 1991. The Armenian community in
Argentina has played an important role in bridging the two countries.
Argentine businesses took advantage of the privatisation process in
Armenia in 1990s. One of the most successful projects has been the
construction of new airport premises adjacent to Yerevan's main
Zvartnots airport as well as state-of-the-art cargo capacity.
Recently, the Armenian government has launched a free-trade zone in
and around the airport which should boost agricultural exports from
the surrounding valleys. Politically, Argentina has given unwavering
support to Armenia since its independence. The Latin American country
was the second country in the region (after Uruguay) in 1993 to
recognise the 1915-1918 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as
genocide, an international campaign led by the Armenian government and
Diaspora that has had significant success since the Argentine official
recognition. Close political ties are certainly important for Armenia,
especially in the UN, with regards to the ongoing conflict over the
status of the ethnic-Armenian self-declared republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which split from Azerbaijan in 1988. Aside from the
presence of a long-standing Armenian community in Argentina, a key
factor in the bilateral relationship will be its expectation of
Armenian support for the Argentine claim of sovereignty over the UK
Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands in multilateral forums,
notably the UN. The visa waiver is unlikely to boost tourism on a
large scale given the geographic distance and prohibitively expensive
travel costs for the majority of Armenians. Nonetheless, facilitated
travel is good news for businesses communities of the two countries
and will certainly benefit the bilateral commercial ties.
September 16, 2011
Armenia, Argentina Agree to Visa-Free Travel Regime to Boost Commercial Ties
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan
Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandian held a meeting with
Argentina's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto D'Alotto in the
Armenian capital Yerevan on 15 September. D'Alotto's delegation held
inter-agency consultations in Armenia aiming to explore new areas of
partnership in what is already rather solid commercial co-operation.
The new projects will enhance not only commercial but also political
and cultural ties. Armenia could benefit from closer
inter-parliamentary co-operation and especially the Argentine support
in international organisations. The parties signed an agreement
lifting visa requirement between the two countries.
Significance:Armenia and Argentina are not natural trading partners
given the geographic distance between the South Caucasian former
Soviet republic and the South American state. Nonetheless, the
countries developed very strong political and economic relations since
Armenia gained independence in 1991. The Armenian community in
Argentina has played an important role in bridging the two countries.
Argentine businesses took advantage of the privatisation process in
Armenia in 1990s. One of the most successful projects has been the
construction of new airport premises adjacent to Yerevan's main
Zvartnots airport as well as state-of-the-art cargo capacity.
Recently, the Armenian government has launched a free-trade zone in
and around the airport which should boost agricultural exports from
the surrounding valleys. Politically, Argentina has given unwavering
support to Armenia since its independence. The Latin American country
was the second country in the region (after Uruguay) in 1993 to
recognise the 1915-1918 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as
genocide, an international campaign led by the Armenian government and
Diaspora that has had significant success since the Argentine official
recognition. Close political ties are certainly important for Armenia,
especially in the UN, with regards to the ongoing conflict over the
status of the ethnic-Armenian self-declared republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which split from Azerbaijan in 1988. Aside from the
presence of a long-standing Armenian community in Argentina, a key
factor in the bilateral relationship will be its expectation of
Armenian support for the Argentine claim of sovereignty over the UK
Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands in multilateral forums,
notably the UN. The visa waiver is unlikely to boost tourism on a
large scale given the geographic distance and prohibitively expensive
travel costs for the majority of Armenians. Nonetheless, facilitated
travel is good news for businesses communities of the two countries
and will certainly benefit the bilateral commercial ties.