Karen Karapetyan: Diplomats of Armenia do not take proper measures to  familiarize external world with potential of Armenia     

ArmInfo.Today's hearings on "Economic component of Armenia's foreign policy" covered issues related to enhancement of Armenia's economic image on the  international arena.  

Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan said in his opening remarks  that the Armenian diplomats should increase the economic aspect of  their activities and form Armenia's image abroad as a reliable  economic partner. "The focus should be put on familiarizing foreign  investors with potential and capacities of the country, finding new  foreign markets for Armenian commodities, stimulating inflow of  capital," he said.   

He thinks this has become attainable after the country's accession to  the Eurasian Economic Union and a new single market of 180 mln  consumers. On the other hand, he said, Armenia is effectively  cooperating with the EU and is the only country in the post-Soviet  space that enjoys the GSP+ privileges. "Another advantage of Armenia  is the common border with Iran, which has acquired investment  attractiveness after the removal of sanctions," Karapetyan stressed,  adding that Armenia is becoming an attractive partner for both the EU  countries and the EEU and Iran, ensuring a link between them. 

The Prime Minister noted that under conditions of Armenia's  isolation, the diplomats should do a big job to familiarize the  external world with the potential and capacities of the country. "I  do not think proper measures are being taken to that end. I often ask  the foreign ambassadors accredited in Armenia to promote our  capacities in their countries," he said. 

For his part, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Argo  Avakov said that the OSCE Office in Yerevan also pays much attention  to issues of the country's economic development. He noted that the  Office is implementing various programs aimed improving the  investment climate and attracting foreign investments. The OSCE  Office in Yerevan also contributes to the country's representation on  the OSCE platform and to finding new sales markets for Armenian  goods.  

Ambassador Avakov noted that in 2017 the OSCE Office in Yerevan is  going to launch projects aimed at improving the business climate and  boosting investments. The focus will be put on reforming the customs  administration on the Armenian-Iranian border, the diplomat said,  adding that the EEU-EU cooperation through Armenia will also be  promoted.      

Julia Blasius, Director of the FES (Friedrich Ebert Foundation) South  Caucasus Office, stressed that Armenia's experience of cooperation  with various integration structures can be a example for other  countries. She noted that Armenia's experience has demonstrated that  it is not compulsory to choose between structures, while it is  possible to cooperate with several structures at the same time.  Armenia is successfully conducting an integration policy within the  EEU and promoting cooperation with the EU amid the unresolved  Karabakh conflict and the borders blocked by Azerbaijan and Turkey.