Will Armenia find a right solution between Russia and Iran? (video)
Tehran celebrates nuclear agreement between Iran and six powers gained in Lausanne. According to that agreement, Tehran is obliged to refrain from creating nuclear weapons, in return the West lifts the sanctions against Iran. The agreement is also important for Armenia. Economist Vahagn Khachatryan says, “The same country, which was a threat to Europe and the region, today can become an opportunity for development.” The West started its sanctions against Iran in 2006. Iran's trade with the outside world was suspended. Iran raised its customs duties on imports in order to compensate its economic losses to some extent. “It is difficult to negotiate with Iranians in the economic cooperation. They measure a thousand times but cut once. They will cooperate and will make investments, when their interest is very important.” In 1995 Mr. Khachatryan was a member of Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission and he reminds that many economic agreements were signed with Iran, but only one or two of them were implemented, “They were even ready to make investments for the rehabilitation of “Nairit” plant. President of the Union of Employers of Armenia Gagik Makaryan doesn’t think that Armenia will benefit from the abolition of the sanctions against Iran, “It isn’t excluded that Armenian investors establish economy in the free zones of Iran, where they are freed from taxes for 20 years.” Having closer relationship with the RA among the neighbors, will Iran use our country as a transit route to Europe, “They can enter Georgia through the RA as tourists, but the RA cannot yet serve as a transit route for cargo transportation.” Vahagn Khachatryan thinks that Europe is mainly interested in Iranian gas and petroleum, and the transportation of these energy carriers through the territory of Armenia may not please our strategic ally Russia, “We must assess whether we need to endanger our relations with the RF. Though from the economic point of view the RA will only benefit.” The economists think that if the RA wants to be a platform between the EEU-EU, it must develop a right relationship with Iran.
