Sharmazanov on Russia's participation in North-South project: Each country is guided by its own interests when choosing foreign political priorities

Each country is guided first of all by its own interests when choosing its foreign political priorities, Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, says, when asked how expedient it is for Russia to participate in implementation of the North-South project, which totally isolates its strategic partner Armenia from the regional integration programs.     

He says there are two major reasons why the international integration projects pass by Armenia - the blockade imposed on Armenia by Turkey and the unresolved Georgian-Russian conflict, which restricts the republic's participation in the integration projects via the territory of the neighboring country.      

At the same time, Sharmazanov hopes that in case Armenia's borders are unblocked and the Russia- Georgia problems are resolved, Armenia will again become an active party to various integration projects.  "I think if the problems between Georgia and Russia are settled, the Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia direction will operate more effectively than the North-South direction," he says.   

As regards the Baku-Moscow arms deal, Sharmazanov notes that Armenia has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it takes a negative view of the military and technical cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan. But in fairness it must be said that the defense cooperation between Armenia and Russia is developing much more efficiently and intensively than the Russian-Azerbaijani military partnership," he says.

On Monday the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran signed in Baku a declaration aimed at developing trilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic fields, as well as in the anti-terrorism field.  The document reflects the three states' intention to diversify the transport flows and means of cargo deliveries "based on the principles of market economy, freedom of competition and mutual benefits". According to the document, the sides will contribute to implementation of new projects on linking the railways under the international North-South transport corridor. The North-South project ($1 bln) aims to link the Persian Gulf countries to Russia and the European Union. Following the trilateral summit in Baku (Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey), Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said, "In 2017, a contract on purchase of 10 planes may be signed.  Another interesting project is the purchase of Ruslan (An-124) by Azerbaijan. This contract may be carried out next year".