Tweet
ARMENIA-HUNGARY RELATIONS: SEVERING TIES "NOT DAMAGING"
By Gayane Abrahamyan
http://armenianow.com/news/39805/armenia_hungary_relations_ramil_safarov_hrant_bagr atyan
News | 07.09.12 | 15:45
Photo: Ministry of Diaspora
Protest action in Budapest
The question that came up right after Armenia severed diplomatic ties
with Hungary, following Ramil Safarov's extradition, was whether that
drastic decision is actually in Armenia's best interests.]
Many are convinced that the suspension of diplomatic ties won't matter
all that much to Hungary and that, in general, it is not an effective
tool with any state.
Enlarge Photo "No to Hungarian products"
Politically Armenia is not winning anything, but, as former prime
minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan, now Armenian National Congress
faction member, says "this implies loss of a 25-million-dollar chance
for commodity turnover".
By The Armenian National Statistical Service date for 2011, the
commodity turnover between Armenia and Hungary made $25.1.
Nonetheless, Armenia exported only about half a million dollars worth
of goods to Hungary.
Armenia has been exporting mostly fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables,
preserves, mineral water and cell phone parts.
According to Bagratyan, who has PhD in economics, Armenia will lose
some $5 million in taxes from import.
In terms of investments, Hungary hasn't been particularly active.
Three years ago, when President Serzh Sragsyan made his first official
visit to Budapest and received a warm welcome, an Armenian-Hungarian
business forum was held there.
"Trade and investment relations got more active after it, but Hungary
does not export to Armenia any product of strategic importance, hence
the decision to sever the diplomatic ties is not really damaging
to Armenia," Askanaz Abrahamyan, chief of staff at the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Armenia, told ArmeniaNow.
As part of the protest against Hungary's decision on extradition,
posters can be seen across Yerevan calling to "boycott Hungarian
products", which can be as "effective" as the calls for boycott of
Turkish products that Armenian markets are flooded with.
In terms of economy and politics Hungary is not of great importance to
Armenia. But for students now studying in Budapest's Central European
University, the education opportunity offered has been significant.
Twelve students are there now following the path of more than 120
since 1991.
Since convicted killer Safarov was extradited from Hungary on August
31, appeals were made on Facebook social network urging the Armenian
students to boycott Hungary and stop their education there.
But the students judged that it would have a stronger impact to stay
and protest: they hung slain victim Gurgen Margaryan's photos on
the dormitory doors and together with their classmates of different
nationalities sent an open letter to the Hungarian prime minister.
Rector of Yerevan State University (YSU) Aram Simonyan made a statement
early this week saying that they had cancelled the earlier confirmed
participation in a conference to be held at the Central European
University's Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies.
However, students have released a statement asking YSU and CEU to
continue cooperation, despite the aggravation of political relations.
By Gayane Abrahamyan
http://armenianow.com/news/39805/armenia_hungary_relations_ramil_safarov_hrant_bagr atyan
News | 07.09.12 | 15:45
Photo: Ministry of Diaspora
Protest action in Budapest
The question that came up right after Armenia severed diplomatic ties
with Hungary, following Ramil Safarov's extradition, was whether that
drastic decision is actually in Armenia's best interests.]
Many are convinced that the suspension of diplomatic ties won't matter
all that much to Hungary and that, in general, it is not an effective
tool with any state.
Enlarge Photo "No to Hungarian products"
Politically Armenia is not winning anything, but, as former prime
minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan, now Armenian National Congress
faction member, says "this implies loss of a 25-million-dollar chance
for commodity turnover".
By The Armenian National Statistical Service date for 2011, the
commodity turnover between Armenia and Hungary made $25.1.
Nonetheless, Armenia exported only about half a million dollars worth
of goods to Hungary.
Armenia has been exporting mostly fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables,
preserves, mineral water and cell phone parts.
According to Bagratyan, who has PhD in economics, Armenia will lose
some $5 million in taxes from import.
In terms of investments, Hungary hasn't been particularly active.
Three years ago, when President Serzh Sragsyan made his first official
visit to Budapest and received a warm welcome, an Armenian-Hungarian
business forum was held there.
"Trade and investment relations got more active after it, but Hungary
does not export to Armenia any product of strategic importance, hence
the decision to sever the diplomatic ties is not really damaging
to Armenia," Askanaz Abrahamyan, chief of staff at the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Armenia, told ArmeniaNow.
As part of the protest against Hungary's decision on extradition,
posters can be seen across Yerevan calling to "boycott Hungarian
products", which can be as "effective" as the calls for boycott of
Turkish products that Armenian markets are flooded with.
In terms of economy and politics Hungary is not of great importance to
Armenia. But for students now studying in Budapest's Central European
University, the education opportunity offered has been significant.
Twelve students are there now following the path of more than 120
since 1991.
Since convicted killer Safarov was extradited from Hungary on August
31, appeals were made on Facebook social network urging the Armenian
students to boycott Hungary and stop their education there.
But the students judged that it would have a stronger impact to stay
and protest: they hung slain victim Gurgen Margaryan's photos on
the dormitory doors and together with their classmates of different
nationalities sent an open letter to the Hungarian prime minister.
Rector of Yerevan State University (YSU) Aram Simonyan made a statement
early this week saying that they had cancelled the earlier confirmed
participation in a conference to be held at the Central European
University's Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies.
However, students have released a statement asking YSU and CEU to
continue cooperation, despite the aggravation of political relations.