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Predicting the danger of isolation
October 25 2014
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan by the invitation of the First
Vice-President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Eshaq Jahangiri, recently
visited Iran. At the meeting with Jahangiri, Hovik Abrahamyan
expressed confidence that the visit will give a new impetus to
mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. IRI First
Vice-President noticed that the economic relations yield to the
available high-level political dialogue. Both sides emphasized that
there is a great potential for economic partnership and it is
necessary to do everything possible to give a new impetus to joint
projects and programs for bringing them to life. They also emphasized
the need for activating the economic relations. H. Abrahamyan
mentioned that Armenia's agreement to join the Eurasian Economic Union
would open new perspectives for the future development of the
country's economy, as well as opportunities for foreign investments.
H. Abrahamyan's and Jahangirii's one-on-one talk was followed by an
extended staff meeting, during which they touched upon the
implementation process of a number of projects of strategic
significance, and their prospects. The Prime Minister of Armenia met
with IRI Foreign Minister Mohammad Zafad Zarif and discussed regional
issues and bilateral cooperation. And in the meeting with Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani, has mentioned that Iran is willing to
support the Armenian initiatives, as well as implementation of joint
programs. In the meeting with the Iranian president, the Prime
Minister of Armenia also spoke about Armenia's accession to the EaEU
and emphasized that it enables to assume the role of a liaison for the
members of this structure and foreign business communities, and that
favorable conditions have been created in Armenia for investments. A
day before the visit of the Prime Minister, the RA President's advisor
had shared some information on partnership with Iran and the programs.
In the "Armenia's economic prospects in the EaEU" conference, the RA
President's Advisor Karine Minasyan said that Iran is interested in
closer relations with Armenia, given Armenia's accession to the
Eurasian Economic Union. "Joining the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia
can become a road for Iran to the Russian market, so it is interested
in continuing and further deepening the partnership with Armenia,"
mentioned Minasyan according to "Armenpress". According to the "Ekho
Kavkaza", Armenia and Iran are planning to open another, the third
electricity transmission line over Araks river. Iranian Energy
Minister Hamid Chitchian informed that the two parties want to expand
their capabilities of transmitting the electricity. Moreover, Iran,
Armenia accelerates the paces of construction of two hydro power
plants on the Araks river. "The bank problems were hampering the
implementation of the project for some time, but now those issues are
resolved," informed Chitchian. The last moves implemented by Armenia's
government authorities on the way to joining the EaEU, are quite
remarkable. One gets the impression that the government of Armenia is
trying to keep balance in foreign policy directions. Official Yerevan
is expressing readiness to expand the relations with the EU and there
have already been responds and assertions by several European
diplomats that with regard to co-relations with Armenia, Brussels is
thinking about what direction to take on to move forward. A few days
ago, the Prime Minister visited the United States, now the neighboring
country Iran, a country towards which the sentiment of international
community in recent times has been changed significantly. The former
US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's assessment a few days ago was
noteworthy that Iran is a natural ally of the United States. According
to his words, it's the ideological, religious component that makes it
an antagonist. Under the current sentiment of the West towards
Armenia's strategic ally Russia, and the sanctions against Russian,
perhaps, Armenia's government authorities moving toward the Eurasian
Union are conscious of what unpredictable situation, first, the
isolated "sponsor" country may appear, moreover, its ally or
"satellite" countries. The recent moves implemented by Armenia's
government officials in the foreign policy are probably due to this.
As to what results will be, is still, of course, too early to speak
about, but it should also be noted that, however, at lease attempts
are made by the government authorities to show some independence in
the foreign policy and not to hand over everything under the
"disposition" of Russia.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/10/25/167486/
October 25 2014
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan by the invitation of the First
Vice-President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Eshaq Jahangiri, recently
visited Iran. At the meeting with Jahangiri, Hovik Abrahamyan
expressed confidence that the visit will give a new impetus to
mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. IRI First
Vice-President noticed that the economic relations yield to the
available high-level political dialogue. Both sides emphasized that
there is a great potential for economic partnership and it is
necessary to do everything possible to give a new impetus to joint
projects and programs for bringing them to life. They also emphasized
the need for activating the economic relations. H. Abrahamyan
mentioned that Armenia's agreement to join the Eurasian Economic Union
would open new perspectives for the future development of the
country's economy, as well as opportunities for foreign investments.
H. Abrahamyan's and Jahangirii's one-on-one talk was followed by an
extended staff meeting, during which they touched upon the
implementation process of a number of projects of strategic
significance, and their prospects. The Prime Minister of Armenia met
with IRI Foreign Minister Mohammad Zafad Zarif and discussed regional
issues and bilateral cooperation. And in the meeting with Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani, has mentioned that Iran is willing to
support the Armenian initiatives, as well as implementation of joint
programs. In the meeting with the Iranian president, the Prime
Minister of Armenia also spoke about Armenia's accession to the EaEU
and emphasized that it enables to assume the role of a liaison for the
members of this structure and foreign business communities, and that
favorable conditions have been created in Armenia for investments. A
day before the visit of the Prime Minister, the RA President's advisor
had shared some information on partnership with Iran and the programs.
In the "Armenia's economic prospects in the EaEU" conference, the RA
President's Advisor Karine Minasyan said that Iran is interested in
closer relations with Armenia, given Armenia's accession to the
Eurasian Economic Union. "Joining the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia
can become a road for Iran to the Russian market, so it is interested
in continuing and further deepening the partnership with Armenia,"
mentioned Minasyan according to "Armenpress". According to the "Ekho
Kavkaza", Armenia and Iran are planning to open another, the third
electricity transmission line over Araks river. Iranian Energy
Minister Hamid Chitchian informed that the two parties want to expand
their capabilities of transmitting the electricity. Moreover, Iran,
Armenia accelerates the paces of construction of two hydro power
plants on the Araks river. "The bank problems were hampering the
implementation of the project for some time, but now those issues are
resolved," informed Chitchian. The last moves implemented by Armenia's
government authorities on the way to joining the EaEU, are quite
remarkable. One gets the impression that the government of Armenia is
trying to keep balance in foreign policy directions. Official Yerevan
is expressing readiness to expand the relations with the EU and there
have already been responds and assertions by several European
diplomats that with regard to co-relations with Armenia, Brussels is
thinking about what direction to take on to move forward. A few days
ago, the Prime Minister visited the United States, now the neighboring
country Iran, a country towards which the sentiment of international
community in recent times has been changed significantly. The former
US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's assessment a few days ago was
noteworthy that Iran is a natural ally of the United States. According
to his words, it's the ideological, religious component that makes it
an antagonist. Under the current sentiment of the West towards
Armenia's strategic ally Russia, and the sanctions against Russian,
perhaps, Armenia's government authorities moving toward the Eurasian
Union are conscious of what unpredictable situation, first, the
isolated "sponsor" country may appear, moreover, its ally or
"satellite" countries. The recent moves implemented by Armenia's
government officials in the foreign policy are probably due to this.
As to what results will be, is still, of course, too early to speak
about, but it should also be noted that, however, at lease attempts
are made by the government authorities to show some independence in
the foreign policy and not to hand over everything under the
"disposition" of Russia.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/10/25/167486/