Facedown between Russia and West is not affecting Armenia, head of Caucasus Institute says
11.04.2018,
16:58
The escalating confrontation between Russia and the West is having no negative consequences for Armenia, the director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told a news conference today.
YEREVAN, April 11. /ARKA/.The escalating confrontation between Russia and the West is having no negative consequences for Armenia, the director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told a news conference today.
"Ukraine suffered, is suffering and will be suffering from the confrontation between Russia and the West. As for Armenia, it is staying away from this confrontation and does not feel its political consequences. Unlike Ukraine, Armenia is not a tidbit for Russia and the West to confront,’ Iskandaryan argued.
Iskandaryan said also that Armenia does not feel the economic consequences of the opposition between Russia and the West either, adding that this will not happen in the near future.
According to Iskandaryan, Armenia has built unique relations with the parties on both sides of "political barricades."
"We have been enjoying close relations with Iran for decades, which has been and remains under American sanctions, maintaining concurrently high level relations with the United States," Iskandaryan said.
According to him, the current aggravation between Russia and the West is so serious that one should not expect any improvement any time soon.
"It is obvious that the sanctions against Russia will continue to operate, but I do not think that we should expect an economic catastrophe in Russia to be caused by these sanctions. But it is clear that sanctions will be having a strong negative impact on the Russian economy," Iskandaryan said.
New punitive measures introduced by the United States on April 6 against Russia have led to a massive crash in Russia's stock and currency markets. According to media reports, shares of Russia's state-owned enterprises and financial institutions such as Sberbank, as well as assets owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, took a nosedive.
According to various estimates, the capitalization of companies belonging to Russian billionaires fell by $12-16 billion within a few hours. The ruble also took a plunge, losing about 10 percent of its value. -0-
"Ukraine suffered, is suffering and will be suffering from the confrontation between Russia and the West. As for Armenia, it is staying away from this confrontation and does not feel its political consequences. Unlike Ukraine, Armenia is not a tidbit for Russia and the West to confront,’ Iskandaryan argued.
Iskandaryan said also that Armenia does not feel the economic consequences of the opposition between Russia and the West either, adding that this will not happen in the near future.
According to Iskandaryan, Armenia has built unique relations with the parties on both sides of "political barricades."
"We have been enjoying close relations with Iran for decades, which has been and remains under American sanctions, maintaining concurrently high level relations with the United States," Iskandaryan said.
According to him, the current aggravation between Russia and the West is so serious that one should not expect any improvement any time soon.
"It is obvious that the sanctions against Russia will continue to operate, but I do not think that we should expect an economic catastrophe in Russia to be caused by these sanctions. But it is clear that sanctions will be having a strong negative impact on the Russian economy," Iskandaryan said.
New punitive measures introduced by the United States on April 6 against Russia have led to a massive crash in Russia's stock and currency markets. According to media reports, shares of Russia's state-owned enterprises and financial institutions such as Sberbank, as well as assets owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, took a nosedive.
According to various estimates, the capitalization of companies belonging to Russian billionaires fell by $12-16 billion within a few hours. The ruble also took a plunge, losing about 10 percent of its value. -0-
