Formation of unfounded expectations in Armenian society regarding  future US investments unacceptable - jurist 

ArmInfo.  While positively assessing the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance, the deliberate distortion of his speech and the creation of unfounded expectations in Armenian society are unacceptable. Legal expert Gohar Meloyan wrote this on her Facebook page, reacting to the Vice President's  statement following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan about proposed investments of approximately $9 billion.

Meloyan noted that this statement created the impression that the  funds in question would be invested directly in Armenia, while  Vance's remarks were quite different.

"The US Vice President noted that the path is being paved for  American and Armenian companies to conclude agreements on civilian  nuclear projects, which entails up to $5 billion in US exports, as  well as $4 billion in long-term support through contracts," Meloyan  recalled. Thus, as the legal expert explained, the US Vice President  was speaking about $9 billion in economic activity to be carried out  in the US, not investments in Armenia. She also noted the lack of  indication of who would pay for up to $5 billion in US exports and $4  billion in support, and how.

"It is obvious that the Armenian government is unable to pay such  sums: the country simply does not have such funds and will not have  them in the coming years. It is also obvious that the US government  will not pay for exports originating from its territory. Therefore,  while positively assessing the US Vice President's visit, it is  unacceptable to deliberately distort his speech and create unfounded  expectations in Armenian society," Meloyan concluded. As a reminder,  on February 9, following talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan in Yerevan, US Vice President J.D. Vance announced at a  press conference that Armenia and the US had completed negotiations  on the "123" agreement in the field of civil nuclear energy, with  investments of approximately $9 billion expected. He explained that  the initial investment would be $5 billion, with a second phase  expected to include an additional $4 billion.