Epress.am News from Armenia
On the backdrop of intensified years-long discussions on the West’s possible invasion of Iran, the President of the Islamic Republic Mahmoud Ahmadinejad finally arrived in Yerevan.
In a statement by the Armenian president’s press service, there is not a word about the details of the visit. The delegation visiting the Armenian capital was met with traces of the first heavy snow and Iranian flags hung along the streets. The downtown core is full of police officers who have been blocking off the roads.
Friendly relations with problematic Iran smoothly fit in Armenia’s foreign policy, which local politicians and pundits have dubbed “complimentarism”.
The 42-km border with Iran has acquired great importance for Armenia in the wake of border blockades by Turkey and Azerbaijan and considering the Armenia-Georgia border which was unstable in the 90s.
There is no railway between the two countries, but there are projects and agreements on its construction. The motor vehicle pass in Karchevan has been active since the early 90s.
About half a million Armenians have been living in Iran for over 500 years — the country’s largest religious minority.
In recent years, the number of tourists arriving to Armenia from the south has increased by several times. Up to 100,000 Iranians visit Armenia annually — especially at the end of March, to celebrate Novruz.
In 2007, an oil pipeline bound the two countries. Immediately after it opened, the possibility of constructing a second line began to be discussed. In exchange for gas supplies, Armenia provides electricity to Iran.
Russian company Gazprom, using its influence over ArmRusGasprom, seeks not only to increase the price of Russian gas, but also to limit Iran’s supply — providing necessary volumes only to the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant.