Armenia, Georgia, Iran and Russia Have a Big Potential of Cooperation

• 06.29.2016, 12:30
•  EEU,  Region

Armenia, Georgia, Iran and Russia have a big potential of regional cooperation. The possible spheres for such cooperation, opportunities and obstacles were discussed on June 27 during the conference "North – South axis: the present situation and the perspectives of the development of Armenia-Iran-Georgia–Russia cooperation".

The conference was organized with the joint efforts of "Noravank" foundation,  Union of entrepreneurs and producers of Armenia, expert's network "International relations and economical integration in South Caucasus", Russian "Knowledge" organization, NGO "Integration and development", non-market "Caucasus partnership". A number of experts from different analytical centers made speeches during the conference.

The membership of Armenia to the EAEU is useful for our neighbors, especially Iran and Georgia. This was declared by the Head of the Union of the producers and entrepreneurs of Armenia Arsen Kazaryan, adding that in case Armenia provides logistics and low tariffs it can play a role of the transit country. "Iran should consider Armenia to be an industrial platform for it, were goods can be produced and sent to the EAEU market," Kazaryan said. Armenia should present Iran its possibilities.

The expert of "Noravank"  Jhonny Melikyan spoke about the relations of Georgia with Iran and Armenia in the context of this possible project. He said Iran carries out intensive work in Georgia not to let the increase of external influence in the region. According to him Georgia also opens  new opportunities for Iran, also due to DCFTA. "Armenia should be proactive and us the opportunities of given by the EAEU to bring new investments," Melikyan said. As a main sphere of cooperation for the mentioned four countries he underlined energy.

As an alternative sphere for cooperation a member of the board of the Union of the political scientists of Armenia, Samvel Manukyan offered innovative integration. According to him, researches show that in this sphere Russia is on the first place , Armenia – the second, Georgia and Iran - the third and the fourth. Manukyan said the government should support the companies that work in this sphere, and also a base of these recourses should be created to boost cooperation.

The senior expert of the Institute of Oriental Studies Armen Manvelyan made SWOT analyses of the cooperation of the four countries and came to the conclusion that Russia and Iran are equally interested in cooperation either with Armenia, or with Azerbaijan, but the involvement of Georgia makes Armenia more preferable. "Armenia should make an accent on its rich experience of cooperation in energy sphere both with Russia and Iran," Manvelyan said.

The representative of the Faculty of international relations of the YSU Roman Karapetyan underlined the increasing role of the axis Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan, that is against the interests of Russia and Iran. He also said, Iran considers Armenia to be its main trade partner, so steps should be taken for the construction of the Iran-Armenia railway and increase of the trade. "Armenia should try to develop bilateral relations with Iran, and trilateral relations with Iran and Georgia, Iran and Russia," Karapetyan said.

The experts mentioned the importance of the axis and big potential, that can serve to the interests of all the four countries.