19:54,

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is not going to become an environment for circumventing sanctions. The country works very closely and transparently not only with the relevant EU authorities, but also with the US and all interested parties, as ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said at the press conference held in Vienna after the meeting with the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg. He assured that the Armenian government is determined to avoid creating an environment where sanctions can be circumvented.

In its question to Minister Ararat Mirzoyan the journalist asked about the trade relations, in particular the recent publication of the Financial times regarding a certain amount of used cars being re-exported to Russia from Armenia. “Do you regard this as potential sanctions circumvention and are you concerned about possible sanctions by the EU against your country?”

Ararat Mirzoyan: Well, of course, this war affected the Armenian economy as well, both positively and negatively. But, since you are speaking about sanctions, I would like to once again publicly and loudly reassure everybody who is interested in this topic that Armenia is not going to become a space where the sanctions could be bypassed. We are working very closely and in a very transparent manner not only with the respective bodies from the EU, but also from the U.S. and elsewhere to make sure that the will of the Government of the Republic of Armenia is to avoid helping to create an environment where the sanctions could be bypassed. We are open, and we are transparent. If there are problems, and I guess there can be problems, as elsewhere, the problems are identified in time and proper solutions are given to them.