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ARMENIA MAY BECOME A TRANSIT COUNTRY FOR IRANIAN GAS
Six international mediators are waiting for the imminent appointment
of the new representative of Tehran to the negotiation on the Iranian
nuclear program, said the head of European Union diplomacy Catherine
Ashton.
With the election of Hassan Rouhani president of Iran, talks about
possible mitigation of the West's position with regards to Iran have
become more often. Moreover, behind the scenes of big politics people
are already talking about the likelihood of laying new pipes, use of
the gas potential of Iran and, consequently, a change in emphasis in
the Greater Middle East.
Armenia and Karabakh, which border with Iran, may become not only
intermediaries in normalization of relations, but also they may
be in the heart of new international projects. In this regard,
yesterday a remarkable event took place: in Vayots Dzor (Armenia)
Armenian, Georgian, Greek and Turkish members of the project Black
Silk (BSSRC) announced the launch of a sub-regional project. BSSRC
is a joint project of NGOs, the purpose of which is to create a
3,000-mile hiking trail that will connect the Greek Thessaloniki with
the Armenian Meghri. Megri, recall, is at the border with Iran. The
project was welcomed by the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern,
the head of the EU mission in Armenia Traian Hristea, ambassadors of
Georgia, Greece, Italy and China.
On the same day, the meeting of the Chambers of Commerce of Iran and
Armenia was held in Yerevan. Armenian businessmen were proposed to
use the Iranian free trade zone Aras bordering with Meghri.
Armenian-Iranian relations, despite the declared positive, are
developing very weak. This may be due to fear of the Armenian
government to be accused of violating the sanctions of the West. But
it is possible that the Armenian-Iranian relations are torpedoed by
Russia, which won't benefit from the opening of the region and laying
new pipes.
Recently the route of the Azerbaijani gas to reach Europe from the
Shah Deniz was defined - via Turkey and Greece. However, part of the
route has not been determined, as well as additional sources of gas.
Experts do not rule out the inclusion of Armenia in the route through
which the Iranian gas will also be used. And, apparently, Moscow
desperately resists.
Armenia should decide whether it is ready to become a transit country
for Iranian gas to Europe, or in general it is ready to launch closer
relations with Iran.
Naira Hayrumyan 15:44 17/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/30484
Six international mediators are waiting for the imminent appointment
of the new representative of Tehran to the negotiation on the Iranian
nuclear program, said the head of European Union diplomacy Catherine
Ashton.
With the election of Hassan Rouhani president of Iran, talks about
possible mitigation of the West's position with regards to Iran have
become more often. Moreover, behind the scenes of big politics people
are already talking about the likelihood of laying new pipes, use of
the gas potential of Iran and, consequently, a change in emphasis in
the Greater Middle East.
Armenia and Karabakh, which border with Iran, may become not only
intermediaries in normalization of relations, but also they may
be in the heart of new international projects. In this regard,
yesterday a remarkable event took place: in Vayots Dzor (Armenia)
Armenian, Georgian, Greek and Turkish members of the project Black
Silk (BSSRC) announced the launch of a sub-regional project. BSSRC
is a joint project of NGOs, the purpose of which is to create a
3,000-mile hiking trail that will connect the Greek Thessaloniki with
the Armenian Meghri. Megri, recall, is at the border with Iran. The
project was welcomed by the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern,
the head of the EU mission in Armenia Traian Hristea, ambassadors of
Georgia, Greece, Italy and China.
On the same day, the meeting of the Chambers of Commerce of Iran and
Armenia was held in Yerevan. Armenian businessmen were proposed to
use the Iranian free trade zone Aras bordering with Meghri.
Armenian-Iranian relations, despite the declared positive, are
developing very weak. This may be due to fear of the Armenian
government to be accused of violating the sanctions of the West. But
it is possible that the Armenian-Iranian relations are torpedoed by
Russia, which won't benefit from the opening of the region and laying
new pipes.
Recently the route of the Azerbaijani gas to reach Europe from the
Shah Deniz was defined - via Turkey and Greece. However, part of the
route has not been determined, as well as additional sources of gas.
Experts do not rule out the inclusion of Armenia in the route through
which the Iranian gas will also be used. And, apparently, Moscow
desperately resists.
Armenia should decide whether it is ready to become a transit country
for Iranian gas to Europe, or in general it is ready to launch closer
relations with Iran.
Naira Hayrumyan 15:44 17/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/30484