RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY TATUL MANASERIAN: ARMENIA SHOULD REDUCE
ITS ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIA

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. "Today we depend seriously on one
country – Russia, which is considered a strategical ally but this
alliance can change at any moment", RA National Assembly deputy Tatul
Manaserian said during a talk with NT correspondent. In his opinion,
Armenia should reduce its economic dependence on Russia. To
substantiate his opinion, T. Manaserian presented the situation when
Russia stopped exporting diamonds to Armenia (2003-2004).

"We received diamonds from our strategical ally by quotas, and it
formed over 50% of our exports. Exports have declined since these
quotas are no longer in effect," he said. He expressed conviction that
Armenia should try to be a diversified country both in terms of
investments and economic interests.

Responding to the question whether freedom of doing business in
Armenia is so great that the authorities state it, T. Manaserian
noted: "If you do a small business not disturbing anyone, you can do
it. But if your business, so to speak, gathers momentum, in that case
you must offer a share to the circles which consider power and
business as the same thing."