Armenia will not benefit from lifting of sanctions against Iran, opposition MP says
09.02.2016,
18:47
The lifting of Western sanctions against Iran will not open new prospects for Armenia, former Armenian prime minister Hrant Bagratyan, now an MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), said today.
YEREVAN, February 9. /ARKA/. The lifting of Western sanctions against Iran will not open new prospects for Armenia, former Armenian prime minister Hrant Bagratyan, now an MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), said today.
"Now, after the sanctions are lifted Armenia is not interesting for Iran. The bilateral trade turnover is falling, no joint projects are being implemented and even the transit of Iranian goods is carried out through the territory of Turkey," he claimed.
He added that Armenia is building those sections of the North-South transport corridor, running from the border with Iran to the border with Georgia which are already in satisfactory condition. "Iran can not wait until we finish the construction of the transport corridor, which is now an inner road and judging by the inefficient spending of money it will remain as such,’ Bagratyan said.
"In my opinion, Iran is interesting for Armenia in terms of high technology integration projects, for example in the fields of pharmacy and medicine,’ said Bagratyan.
According to official statistics, the trade turnover between Armenia and Iran declined by 5.2% in 2015 to $276.3 million. Armenian exports declined by 8.2% to $78 million, while imports from Iran dropped by 3.0% to $198.3 million. -0-
"Now, after the sanctions are lifted Armenia is not interesting for Iran. The bilateral trade turnover is falling, no joint projects are being implemented and even the transit of Iranian goods is carried out through the territory of Turkey," he claimed.
He added that Armenia is building those sections of the North-South transport corridor, running from the border with Iran to the border with Georgia which are already in satisfactory condition. "Iran can not wait until we finish the construction of the transport corridor, which is now an inner road and judging by the inefficient spending of money it will remain as such,’ Bagratyan said.
"In my opinion, Iran is interesting for Armenia in terms of high technology integration projects, for example in the fields of pharmacy and medicine,’ said Bagratyan.
According to official statistics, the trade turnover between Armenia and Iran declined by 5.2% in 2015 to $276.3 million. Armenian exports declined by 8.2% to $78 million, while imports from Iran dropped by 3.0% to $198.3 million. -0-
