Political analyst names most important events of 2017
09.01.2018,
15:27
The opening of the second road connecting Armenia with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was the most important event in 2017, according to Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute.
YEREVAN, January 9. /ARKA/. The opening of the second road connecting Armenia with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was the most important event in 2017, according to Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute.
The 116 –kilometer long Vardenis-Martakert road link runs from the northern Karabakh town of Martakert to Vardenis in eastern Armenia through the Karvachar district. It is the second road between Armenia and Karabakh built with the financial assistance of the Armenian Diaspora.
"This road has strategic, economic, military and political significance for Armenia and Karabakh. It has not only solved a number of economic issues, but first of all has raised the level of security of Armenia and Karabakh,' said Iskandaryan.
The second important event of the past year, according to Iskandaryan, was the inauguration of a free economic zone near the southern Armenian town of Meghri on the border with Iran. The free economic is said to create 2,500 new jobs and increase Armenian exports by 30%. According to the government, the main purpose of the free economic zone is to help boost trade and economic relations with Iran and other countries of the region, help the development of the southern Armenian province of Syunik, as well as position Armenia as a link between Iran and members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Georgia. About 120 foreign companies are expected to be hosted by the free economic zone, which are expected to invest a total of $350-400 million.
"The opening of the free trade zone not only gives Armenia the opportunity to strengthen its economic ties with Iran, but also opens up a real opportunity for it to become a link between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union," Iskandaryan said.
Another important political event last year were the parliamentary elections. According to constitutional changes adopted at a referendum in December, 2015, the National Assembly was elected for the first time in April 2017 by party lists only.
"The parliamentary elections were noteworthy not only because the opposition did not challenge their results, which was a new phenomenon for the Armenian political culture, but also because the parliament has become the main actor of the country's political processes for years to come, as Armenia is switching to parliamentary form of government in 2018 April," Iskandaryan said.
Another important event, in his opinion, was the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Armenia signed with the European Union last November in Brussels.
"The agreement with the EU is one of the most important political events of 2017. I do not exclude that negotiations on a visa-free regime between Armenia and the EU may begin later this year,' said Iskandaryan.
The agreement will enter into force after all 28 EU member states and Armenia ratify it. -0-
The 116 –kilometer long Vardenis-Martakert road link runs from the northern Karabakh town of Martakert to Vardenis in eastern Armenia through the Karvachar district. It is the second road between Armenia and Karabakh built with the financial assistance of the Armenian Diaspora.
"This road has strategic, economic, military and political significance for Armenia and Karabakh. It has not only solved a number of economic issues, but first of all has raised the level of security of Armenia and Karabakh,' said Iskandaryan.
The second important event of the past year, according to Iskandaryan, was the inauguration of a free economic zone near the southern Armenian town of Meghri on the border with Iran. The free economic is said to create 2,500 new jobs and increase Armenian exports by 30%. According to the government, the main purpose of the free economic zone is to help boost trade and economic relations with Iran and other countries of the region, help the development of the southern Armenian province of Syunik, as well as position Armenia as a link between Iran and members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Georgia. About 120 foreign companies are expected to be hosted by the free economic zone, which are expected to invest a total of $350-400 million.
"The opening of the free trade zone not only gives Armenia the opportunity to strengthen its economic ties with Iran, but also opens up a real opportunity for it to become a link between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union," Iskandaryan said.
Another important political event last year were the parliamentary elections. According to constitutional changes adopted at a referendum in December, 2015, the National Assembly was elected for the first time in April 2017 by party lists only.
"The parliamentary elections were noteworthy not only because the opposition did not challenge their results, which was a new phenomenon for the Armenian political culture, but also because the parliament has become the main actor of the country's political processes for years to come, as Armenia is switching to parliamentary form of government in 2018 April," Iskandaryan said.
Another important event, in his opinion, was the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Armenia signed with the European Union last November in Brussels.
"The agreement with the EU is one of the most important political events of 2017. I do not exclude that negotiations on a visa-free regime between Armenia and the EU may begin later this year,' said Iskandaryan.
The agreement will enter into force after all 28 EU member states and Armenia ratify it. -0-
