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ANALYSIS: NEW AMBASSADOR'S ARRIVAL IN YEREVAN COULD MARK NEW STAGE IN U.S.-ARMENIA RELATIONS
ANALYSIS | 11.02.15 | 10:50
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
A new United States ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, will be
arriving in Yerevan this week and his arrival could mark a new stage
in Armenian-American and Russian-Armenian relations.
Before the envoy's coming to Yerevan, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin made an important
statement. He said that the United States stands ready to help Armenia
and other countries in the region to overcome the economic problems
arising due to the deteriorating economic situation in Russia.
He said that the matter will be on the agenda of Richard Mills'
meetings with officials in Yerevan. According to Rubin, the United
States considers its relations with the countries of the region not
in the context of competition with Russia, but in the context of
bilateral relations with each of these countries.
Russia, however, appears to be considering Armenia's relations with
the United States as competitive, and one can assume that the probable
development of Armenia's relations with the United States may cause
Moscow's jealousy. Until now, as many experts say, Armenia's economic
and military relations with the United States have been torpedoed
from Russia.
In particular, the matter concerns cooperation with the United States
within the framework of NATO and the supply of arms, as well as
investments of American capital in Armenia. Under apparent pressure
from Russia a few years ago the Armenian parliament adopted a law,
according to which there can be no military infrastructure of third
countries in the territory of Armenia without Russia's consent.
Besides, by means of pressure on the government of Armenia, Russia
is clearly torpedoing a deal on the sale of the Vorotan cascade to
a private American company, ContourGlobal. This deal could break
Russia's monopoly in the energy sector of Armenia. However, it has
been delayed more than a year now.
What policies will be carried out by the new U.S. ambassador to
Armenia? At the beginning of his tour of duty in Armenia in 2011
former Ambassador John Heffern said his main goal was to diversify the
economic and other relations of Armenia. Several years down the road,
no significant progress appears to have been made in this direction.
According to Eric Rubin, Washington's priority in the development of
relations with Yerevan is to achieve economic growth in Armenia, as
well as ensure an increase in bilateral trade and foreign investment
in the Armenian economy. "We are not satisfied with the current level
of economic cooperation and would like to see more substantial U.S.
investment in the Armenian economy," he, in particular, said.
Besides, the new American ambassador is starting his duty in Armenia
at a time when the world is going to mark the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. The United States, according to some experts,
may adopt some resolutions that will oblige Turkey to return the
property and monuments of Christian peoples that were illegally
confiscated a century ago to their rightful owners.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60517/armenia_us_ambassador_richard_mills_relations
From: Baghdasarian
ANALYSIS | 11.02.15 | 10:50
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
A new United States ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, will be
arriving in Yerevan this week and his arrival could mark a new stage
in Armenian-American and Russian-Armenian relations.
Before the envoy's coming to Yerevan, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin made an important
statement. He said that the United States stands ready to help Armenia
and other countries in the region to overcome the economic problems
arising due to the deteriorating economic situation in Russia.
He said that the matter will be on the agenda of Richard Mills'
meetings with officials in Yerevan. According to Rubin, the United
States considers its relations with the countries of the region not
in the context of competition with Russia, but in the context of
bilateral relations with each of these countries.
Russia, however, appears to be considering Armenia's relations with
the United States as competitive, and one can assume that the probable
development of Armenia's relations with the United States may cause
Moscow's jealousy. Until now, as many experts say, Armenia's economic
and military relations with the United States have been torpedoed
from Russia.
In particular, the matter concerns cooperation with the United States
within the framework of NATO and the supply of arms, as well as
investments of American capital in Armenia. Under apparent pressure
from Russia a few years ago the Armenian parliament adopted a law,
according to which there can be no military infrastructure of third
countries in the territory of Armenia without Russia's consent.
Besides, by means of pressure on the government of Armenia, Russia
is clearly torpedoing a deal on the sale of the Vorotan cascade to
a private American company, ContourGlobal. This deal could break
Russia's monopoly in the energy sector of Armenia. However, it has
been delayed more than a year now.
What policies will be carried out by the new U.S. ambassador to
Armenia? At the beginning of his tour of duty in Armenia in 2011
former Ambassador John Heffern said his main goal was to diversify the
economic and other relations of Armenia. Several years down the road,
no significant progress appears to have been made in this direction.
According to Eric Rubin, Washington's priority in the development of
relations with Yerevan is to achieve economic growth in Armenia, as
well as ensure an increase in bilateral trade and foreign investment
in the Armenian economy. "We are not satisfied with the current level
of economic cooperation and would like to see more substantial U.S.
investment in the Armenian economy," he, in particular, said.
Besides, the new American ambassador is starting his duty in Armenia
at a time when the world is going to mark the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. The United States, according to some experts,
may adopt some resolutions that will oblige Turkey to return the
property and monuments of Christian peoples that were illegally
confiscated a century ago to their rightful owners.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60517/armenia_us_ambassador_richard_mills_relations
From: Baghdasarian