MILITARY OPERATION OF U.S. AGAINST IRAN WILL CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS FOR ARMENIA, ARMEN ASHOTIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. "In consideration of
transport-communication and energy cooperation between Armenia and
Iran, a possible military operation of U.S. against Iran may cause
great economic problems for Armenia." RA MP Armen Ashotian, Board
member of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), declared this in his
interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent. In connection with this he
mentioned the project of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, third line of
electric conductivity being built between Armenia and Iran, joint
construction of Meghri HPP on the Armenian-Iranian border, etc. In
A. Ashotian’s opinion, there is nothing to oppose to the East-West
corridor being created by Turkey and Azerbaijan except development
of our own communication programs, in which Iran plays a considerable
part. In connection with a possible military operation of U.S. against
Iran he also expressed anxiety with the fate of Armenian community of
Iran reminding that according to official data, 200-thousand Armenian
community lives in Iran. Being a religious minority, this community
nevertheless enjoys great privileges. A. Ashotian especially mentioned
the circumstance that Iran plays a very important stabilizing role in
the region, including relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In
his words, today Armenia is in a very complicated situation, as
partnership with U.S. develops rather intensively. "Can we find a
right formula in this case and can we put our problems higher than
the problems of our allies and other states? All this will depend on
the quality of our political elite, which, unfortunately, currently
is rather engaged with preelection race than analysis of possible
regional changes and their consequences for our country," A. Ashotian
declared. He also assured that necessary analysis of foreign situation
is being implemented within RPA.