Author: Mike Maghakian

Interfax - Russia & CIS General Newswire
 Friday 10:19 PM MSK


Pashinyan says Putin and he have 'absolute mutual understanding'

YEREVAN. Sept 28

The post-revolutionary stage of Armenian-Russian relations can be seen
as finished, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

"I had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in
Dushanbe. We discussed issues on the Armenian-Russian agenda.
Following our last meeting, if you remember, I've said that we may
acknowledge that our relations have truly reached a new level and have
never been at such a high level. Following today's meeting, I would
afford this wording: the transitional post-revolutionary stage of
Armenian-Russian relations can be seen as finished," Pashinyan said
live on his Facebook account.

Pashinyan said Putin and he enjoyed "absolute mutual understanding."

"This doesn't mean we agree on all matters and there are no
differences in our opinions. There are no unsolvable problems in our
relations. An excellent working atmosphere has been formed, we can
discuss any matter in an atmosphere of respect, in an atmosphere of
respect for our sovereignty, and in an atmosphere of non-interference
in our internal affairs. And there are no reasons to be surprised when
the leader of Armenia says about respect for sovereignty in a
conversation with the president of Russia," Pashinyan said.

"The Russian president first started talking [about respect for
sovereignty of other countries] during our first meeting in Sochi,"
Pashinyan said.

"Speaking at a dinner table, Vladimir Putin said he knew there were
opinions that Russia treated sovereignty of its partners with
insufficient respect, which is not the case. He assured me that he
fully respects sovereignty of [Russia's] partners and emphasizes the
importance of the respect for sovereignty principle in our relations.
He said we would work and I would see that this is truly so. And time
has shown that this is truly so," Pashinyan said.

"When I say now about respect for sovereignty, I emphasize this as an
important achievement and a basis that will guarantee natural
development of our relations," he said.

Va

Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 30 2018


Armenia expects a significant breakthrough in the construction of the
Meghri hydroelectric power station on the border with Iran

Yerevan August 29

Alexander Avanesov. Armenia expects a significant breakthrough in the
construction project of Meghri HPPon the river Araks at Iranian border
. On August 29, RA Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural
Resources Arthur Grigoryan stated this at the press conference in
Yerevan, responding to the question of ArmInfo.

According to him, negotiations on the construction of the Meghri
hydropower plant have been in progress since 2006, numerous documents
have been signed, and real progress in this there is still no
progress. The Armenian side presented to its Iranian partners certain
proposals on this project and is waiting for a response in the nearest
future. "On September 2-3, the Armenian delegation hopes to get the
final answer on the Meghri hydropower station during the visit to
Iran," said Arthur Grigoryan.

Earlier, ArmInfo informed that the Mejlis of Iran at the meeting of 18
April, with162 votes "for", 5 "against" and 5 abstentions approved the
bill on the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Araks
River. The Meghri hydropower plant was considered the most promising
joint Armenian-Iranian project. Although the parties have come to the
final stage of the project and announced the start of construction in
November 2012, the work has not been started yet because of the
limitations of Tehran because of the sanctions. If the project is
completed, the station will become the largest in the Transcaucasus.
According to the project, the construction of a $ 323 million facility
will be financed by the Iranian investment company. Armenia will pay
for its part of the project with electricity produced at the
hydroelectric station itself, and after 15 years the hydroelectric
power station will be transferred to the Armenian side. While the
Armenian-Iranian economic relations can not move from the dead point,
after the lifting of sanctions, economic ties between Tehran and Baku
sharply intensified.

The Iranian parliament approved a bill on the joint construction of
two hydroelectric power stations with Azerbaijan. The bill allows
construction of power plants near the Araks River in the border area,
in the Iranian city of Marazad and the Azerbaijani city of Ordubad.
The document provides for cooperation in the construction of power
stations at the dams of Khoda Afarin and Gyz Galasy, on the Araks
River, as well as the construction of the Ordubad Power Station on the
Azerbaijani side and the power plant in Marazada on the Iranian side.
The ArmInfo agency reported that if the project is implemented, the
water volumes for the Meghri hydropower plant in Armenia may simply
not be enough. Earlier, adviser to the Minister of Energy
Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia Areg Galstyan stated
that due to environmental problems related to the reduction of water
volumes in the Araks River, as well as the increase of water intakes
from Turkey in the northern part of Armenia, it was necessary to
revise this project in the direction of power reduction. If initially
it was planned to build two stations (Meghri - Armenia, Karachilar -
Iran) for 130 MW each and a total power generation of about 850
million kW per year, now the option is considered with a capacity of
100 MW. In this regard, the diameter of the tunnel has been changed,
along which water will flow between the two hydroelectric power
stations.