View from Yerevan: It is time to switch from words to deeds in  Armenian-Iranian projects

ArmInfo. In the issue of joint Armenian-Iranian projects, it is time to move from words to deeds. Stepan Grigoryan, head of the Analytical Center for Globalization and  Regional Cooperation, expressed his opinion to ArmInfo.

On August 2, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with  the Iranian media reported on the discussions at the expert level on  the possibility of Iranian gas transit through Armenia to Europe.  Sargsyan emphasized the readiness of Yerevan to cooperate with Iran  on this issue.

The political scientist appraises such statements of the Armenian  president extremely positively, considering the very fact of their  voicing as evidence of certain progress in the Armenian-Iranian  economic cooperation. "However, the member of the EEU Armenia  continues to depend on Moscow both on the issue of gas transit and on  the issue of a free trade zone with Iran, which in turn does not  interest Armenia in gaining real independence through the development  of the Armenian economy, and mechanisms for preventing Armenia's  withdrawal from the position of the vassal of Moscow: all the gas  distribution networks in Armenia belong to Gazprom, even the Armenian  part of the gas pipeline from Iran, and Gazprom, moreover, has the  right of monopoly opinion on any implementation with the  participation of Armenia to the project," he said.

In this light, according to Grigoryan's estimates, Yerevan should  somehow convince Moscow of the need to meet halfway in the  implementation of the opportunities that are opening in the south  today. As the above- mentioned agreements bind Armenia in relations  with the southern neighbor on the hands and feet.

During the Tehran meeting, the presidents of Armenia and Iran  discussed energy issues: gas and electric power, opportunities for  using international transport and transit routes connecting the  Persian Gulf and the Black Sea across the territory of Armenia and  Iran. The importance of developing cooperation in Iran-  Armenia-Turkmenistan was underscored. The interlocutors stressed the  importance of negotiations between Iran and the EEU regarding the  Free Trade Agreement.