Experts: Armenia squeezed out from all regional events, projects

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

Successes of neighboring states in regional and local projects caused a wave of indignation in Armenian society. "We are being ignored by everybody"- can be heard each and everywhere in this poor South Caucasus nation.

The recent meeting of the Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian presidents in Baku could not have come at a worse time for Armenia, which is fighting with its political and economic crises.

Back in July, when representatives of railways agencies of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran met in Baku, Armenia doubted that the cooperation will continue. But now, after the Baku summit of the presidents, the trilateral cooperation between the countries is quite obvious. And Armenia again remained beyond the beneficial project.

The strengthening of relations between the three regional states surely caused resentment in the Armenian society.

“Armenia seems to be squeezed out from all regional events and projects,” Armenian economist and former MP Vardan Bostanjyan said at a press conference. In fact, the current situation in the region is unfavorable for Armenia, the economist confessed.

Another Armenian expert, head of the Committee on Foreign Relations at the Armenian National Congress Party Vladimir Karapetyan acknowledged that the country remains outside of big regional projects.

“In contrast to the projects between Azerbaijan and Iran ,we reached such a “progress” that Armenia has once again been bypassed,” he said in an interview to newspaper Aravot

Back in October 2008, when coming to the presidency, Serzh Sargsyan vowed that in the coming years the Iran-Armenia railway would be set up. He also promised that in a very short time Armenians could witness the all-Armenian Bank and Investment Fund that would fund large-scale programs in the country. “Our overarching goal will be Armenia experiencing the rise,” he said. However, nothing of that was implemented during eight years of his presidency in Armenia.

“While Armenians were waiting for a miracle, Azerbaijan together with Russia and Iran realized huge projects, concluded agreements,” Karapetyan said.

He explained the possible reason why neighbors prefer Azerbaijan, and not Armenia: “I think that the issue is not that we have not presented a better offer, and that we are not treated as a reliable partner. Explanation of why a more favorable transit proposal has been suggested to our enemy should come from our government. And we will draw appropriate conclusions, especially if these explanations will not come.”

The continuing aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, its territorial claims to neighboring countries pose serious obstacles to the expansion of regional cooperation. This policy leads to Armenia being locked out of all regional projects.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly announced that as long as Armenia does not put an end to its aggressive policy, its participation in any regional project will be impossible.

Azerbaijan's internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh territory became a conflict zone following Armenia's aggression in the early 1990s. As a result of Armenia's armed invasion, 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory fell under Armenia's occupation and over 1 million people turned into refugees and IDPs.