Armenia and Iran lost a chain of opportunities to develop relationsJune 24, 2010 - 16:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Over the past 10 years Armenia and Iran lost a chain of opportunities to develop relations, Sardarapat initiative group member said. “These are the failure to build the railway connecting the two countries, to operate Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and to construct Hrazdan heat power plant 5th power unit,” Tigran Khzmalyan told reporters on June 24. “Iran offered Armenia to finance construction of Hrazdan heat power plant 5th power unit, the loan to be paid off through delivery of electricity to Iran. However, the Armenian authorities preferred to transfer the construction right to Russia,” he said. “Construction of Armenia-Iranian oil processing plant is also dragged out.” “Armenian authorities is incapable to oppose the pressure from outside, betraying national interests for the sake for their personal benefits,” Khzmalyan stated. He also emphasized that recently Iran sent farming equipment to Karabakh and expressed willingness to meet with NKR representatives to discuss further cooperation. However, no response has been received yet. As to regional policy, Khzmalyan noted that both Armenia and Iran are interested in prevention of Turkey’s expansion throughout the region. “Moreover, Armenia has a unique opportunity and even obligation not to join the anti-Iranian battle and to maintain energy, commercial and technical cooperation with Tehran,” he concluded. Top stories Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Partner news | Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. |