Armenian Prime Minister: "The really "vitally important issue" is the establishment of good neighbor relations with all the countries of the region, primarily, Azerbaijan"

- Has the Armenian economy sustained great losses after the conflict in South Ossetia? As is known, Armenia has its borders closed with Turkey and Azerbaijan, while the contacts with Russia had been maintained via Georgia, which now has no contacts with the Russian Federation...

- First of all, I would like to thank Day.Az for the question. I hope my answers will help the Day.Az readers to have a more clear idea of the position of the Armenian Republic.

Naturally, such conflicts affect the neighbor countries, especially Armenia, which has limited transport ways. About 70% of the external trade turnover of Armenia is conducted via Georgia.

The damage caused to the Armenian economy by the well-known events makes $670 mln. These are unreceived taxes, postponed investments, unimplemented projects and so on. The conflict became a serious test of the flexibility of the Armenian economy. Today we can say that the flexibility of our economy has risen sharply through the past years. The population has almost not felt the suspension of the commodity supplies; all systems were functioning in a normal regime. In two days we fixed queers for petrol, which were more due to the panic. It should be noted that state reserves were not used as they are designed for emergency situation, when there is almost no alternative,

What allowed us to soften the influence of the conflict? First of all, our constructive relations with Georgia helped stabilize supplies from Europe and CIS countries via Georgia in the shortest time. Georgia continues to get Russian gas and Armenia receives it via Georgia. The share of the Armenian-Russian commodity turnover makes about 20%. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia tend to improve the Russian-Georgian relations.

Second, Armenia has a border with Iran and owing to the efforts of the businessmen of our countries, the directions of some commodity flows were changed in the crisis period, which also allowed to smooth the negative consequences of the crisis significantly. Third, Armenia has strategic reserves which are sufficient for evading the internal fuel and energy or food crisis within several months.

- As is known, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is a vitally important issue for Yerevan. How does this issue proceed, considering the recent unofficial visit of Abdullah Gul to Armenia?

- As is known, the border with Turkey was closed about 15 years ago and through these years Armenian economy ensured high growth, which has been two-digit through the past 10 years, therefore, it is necessary to clarify the concept "vitally important issue for Armenia". The really "vitally important issue" is the establishment of good neighbor relations with all the countries of the region, primarily, Azerbaijan. We approach this issue pragmatically and we consider that the trends of the world development demonstrate that competition is growing from country's into regional and in the long-term perspective the cooperation in the region will become the first issue on the agenda of all the regional countries. In this context it would be interesting to discuss "The Caucasus Stability and Security Platform" of the Turkish President.

- Experts state that Armenia is obliged to get ties closer with Turkey, for its economic state leaves much to be desired in the light of the recent events in South Caucasus. Do you share this opinion?

- Armenia's position regarding getting ties closer with Turkey has always been exact and clear. We are ready to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without any other provisions. It seems that someone benefits from interpreting the situation otherwise.

- Currently, Armenia intends to set diplomatic relations with Turkey without provisions. You have recently announced that Great Britain may play a significant role in this issue. How can the British government assist Armenia in this issue?

- Armenia has always stated readiness to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without preliminary provisions. Great Britain has historical interests in the region and traditional diplomatic relations with Turkey. Israel also has such relations, which means that countries, which has good relations with Turkey may promote creation of good basis for cooperation.

- Does Armenia try to join the joint railway project of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey - Baku-Kars-Akhalkalaki?

- We are interested in joining any regional projects.

- As is known, you have recently had a meeting with President of the Russian Railway Company Vladimir Yakunin. You discussed the railway projects, which will promote stability in the region. Which projects are implied, considering the current isolation of Armenia and how can they promote stability in the region?

- A single regional transport network for all the regional countries is of strategic importance. And the more we have communication, the higher will be the regional stability and the less will be its vulnerability to external factors. I think Azerbaijan is also interested in it. We discussed possible projects both within the country and in the framework of the single transport network of the mega region with Yakunin.

- How much does the "Nagorno Karabakh" economy depend on all-Armenian economy? How strong are the financial investments of the Armenian diaspora in the "Nagorno Karabakh" economy? And what can you say about the economic state of "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" - a formation, which has no independent economy?

- The economy of Nagorno Karabakh "depends" on the all-Armenian economy as much as the economy of Armenia depends on the all-Armenian economy. Armenia-NKR-Diaspora is a united organism, which we call "the Armenian world". Modern realities do not allow to consider each of these elements in separate, as the scene will be inevitably distorted. Modern world processes demonstrate the close integration of the countries' economies. Modern world  does not only change fact but also narrow, thus creating new unique opportunities for integration both in the framework of the Armenian world and in the region. There is almost no country which has an independent economy. Which European country has an independent economy?

- What do you think about the further negotiation process on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

- We must focus on the values, which bring us closer, but not separate us. Armenia, like Azerbaijan, is loyal to the common European values and sees its future in the integration with the European Union. In line with the program of the European Commission "New neighborhood" the European Union is recommended to build closer relations with the South Caucasus countries, that are Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is necessary to see common future in 20 or 30 years and then we will be able to find mutually profitable decisions. I think the process will be accelerated following the elections in Azerbaijan. We believe in Azerbaijan's constructiveness.

/Day.Az/