Foreign Relations of Armenia

[Armanen]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

By the way, has Armenia recently bought any new military weapons from Russia?

Armenia often times gets weapons from Russia, at below market prices and in some cases for free. The two States recently signed an agreement that they would export military arms to third countries. This is great news for Armenia since it will give an impetus to our very small arms industry. You may want to send a PM to Zoravar, he is more likely to know if there have been any arms transfers within the past few months.

[JohnCanadian]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

Armenian basically has good relationships with almost every country in the world, and in other cases it simply has no political relationships with other countries because of distance in between, lack of mutual communication, or other things.

I would not say that Armenia has good relations almost every country in the world. Armenia has sufficient relations is the best way to describe Armenia's foreign policy while Armenia is an struggling but fledging emerging democracy it is doing well for itself. Considering that Armenia has a very small population, with limited natural resources and does not have the influence or leverage Armenia's foreign policy is of a sufficient level.

Armenia will need to sort out its relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan to ensure the regions peace and stability. Turkey and Azerbaijan need to work hard on their issues as well to ensure regional stability and peace.

Turkey has excellent relations and of course privileged relations with some EU States. Armenia can follow the example of how those EU States can establish very influential and peaceful cooperation policies that have made the EU10 - former communist countries (non Soviet republics) so highly respected in world influence and foreign policy. Armenia should follow closely the advice of what Joe Biden gave on his European Tour.

If only some of the new EU States could become world powers they would be greatly and well positively received. Unfortunately most of the EU10 States populations are too small. But yet again the EU10 are very influential and highly respected and regarded members of the International Community.

The EU12 States are all Advanced Democracies, Electoral Democracies and have considerable pluralism in their media and other types of internal and external communication tools. All of them have had free and fair elections between 1990 and 1991 onwards including today and will remain so permanently in the future.

[Haykakan]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

OPENING OF UPPER LARS CHECK POINT WILL GIVE ARMENIA A BETTER GROUNDED RESPITE IN ITS RAPPROCHEMENT PROCESS WITH TURKEY

ArmInfo
2010-03-09 20:43:00

ArmInfo. The opening of the Upper Lars check point was motivated by
not only Russian-Georgian but also Russian-Armenian, Armenian-Turkish
and Georgian-Armenian relations, Russian political expert, the
head of the International Relations Department of the Institute
for Political and Military Analysis Sergey Markedonov said during a
Yerevan-Tbilisi-Moscow TV bridge today.

The closure of the check point in 2006 caused great anxiety in Armenia
as Yerevan lost many of its logistical ties with its strategic ally,
Moscow. 08.08.08 war has caused damage to Armenian-Russian relations,
which was a prerequisite for Armenian-Turkish rapprochement.

Presently, the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement is stalling and the
opening of the Upper Lars check point will give Armenia a better
grounded respite in this process.

Armenian-Georgian relations are not very simple. On the one hand,
Armenian and Georgia are neighbors and 3/4 of Armenian export goes
via Georgia, on the other, there is a complex ethno-political problem
in Javakheti, which though not Abkhazia or South Ossetia is still a
source of concern. Armenia's mediation in the Upper Lars reopening
talks is a mutual signal for Tbilisi and Yerevan that some "hotheads"
in Javakheti will be given a certain message and that Georgia may
revise its policy in this region.

To remind, the Kazbegi-Upper Lars check point on the Russian-Georgian
border has been kept closed for three years. It was closed by Russia
for repair and re-equipment. The check point was reopened Mar 1 2010.

The relevant talks were mediated by Armenia.

[Federate]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

Excellent trip by Serge Sargsyan. I can only hope our relations with Syria (and other friendly Arab countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, UAE) reach the summit. It will help counter the monopoly Azerbaijan has (or is building) over the region due to the Islamic conference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Syria and Armenia Sign 10 Agreements, Memos of Understanding and Executive Program

Syria and Armenia signed on Tuesday 9 agreements and memos of understanding for cooperation in several fields including justice, interior, higher education, scientific research, industry, electricity, renewable energy, sport and remote sensing.

Also, an executive program for technical and scientific cooperation in agriculture for the years 2010 and 2012 was signed.

The agreements were signed by Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Adel Safar, Minister of Higher Education Ghiyath Barakat, Minister of Industry Fouad Issa al-Jouni, Minister of Electricity Ahmad Qussai Kayyali, Minister of Justice Ahmad Younes, Minister of Interior Said Sammour, Director-General of the Remote Sensing General Establishment Osama Ammar and Chairman of the Executive Office of the General Sport Union Muaffaq Jomaa.

On the Armenian side, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Agriculture Minister Gerasim Alaverdian, Armenian Ambassador to Damascus Arshak Poladyan signed the agreements.

In a statement to SANA, Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri said Syrian-Armenian relations are important and necessary, adding Syria is exerting all efforts to enhance them in the interests of both friendly countries.

http://www.isria.com/pages/23_March_2010_146.php

[Mukuch]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

I would not say that Armenia has good relations almost every country in the world. Armenia has sufficient relations is the best way to describe Armenia's foreign policy while Armenia is an struggling but fledging emerging democracy it is doing well for itself. Considering that Armenia has a very small population, with limited natural resources and does not have the influence or leverage Armenia's foreign policy is of a sufficient level.

Armenia will need to sort out its relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan to ensure the regions peace and stability. Turkey and Azerbaijan need to work hard on their issues as well to ensure regional stability and peace.

Turkey has excellent relations and of course privileged relations with some EU States. Armenia can follow the example of how those EU States can establish very influential and peaceful cooperation policies that have made the EU10 - former communist countries (non Soviet republics) so highly respected in world influence and foreign policy. Armenia should follow closely the advice of what Joe Biden gave on his European Tour.

If only some of the new EU States could become world powers they would be greatly and well positively received. Unfortunately most of the EU10 States populations are too small. But yet again the EU10 are very influential and highly respected and regarded members of the International Community.

The EU12 States are all Advanced Democracies, Electoral Democracies and have considerable pluralism in their media and other types of internal and external communication tools. All of them have had free and fair elections between 1990 and 1991 onwards including today and will remain so permanently in the future.

What is this US official crap?
Is this guy kind of CIA infiltrator or what?

What our foreign policy got to do with being "Democracy" ? Is it usual American: "Or become a "democracy" or we will "democratize" you like we did in Iraq and Afghanistan. Never mind Saudi Arabia which by judging on relations with US and EU must be the most "Democratic" country in the world (after US ofcors).

*"Democracy" - in understanding of US for foreign countries means just one thing: KISS US ASS OR DIE!

[Tigranakert]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

What is this US official crap?
Is this guy kind of CIA infiltrator or what

A crypto-j-e-w pretending to be Armenian (we have many of those in Armenia). Most of the time, their left eye is a little bit closed, because of their genetics.

[hipeter924]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

I would not say that Armenia has good relations almost every country in the world. Armenia has sufficient relations is the best way to describe Armenia's foreign policy while Armenia is an struggling but fledging emerging democracy it is doing well for itself. Considering that Armenia has a very small population, with limited natural resources and does not have the influence or leverage Armenia's foreign policy is of a sufficient level.

Armenia will need to sort out its relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan to ensure the regions peace and stability. Turkey and Azerbaijan need to work hard on their issues as well to ensure regional stability and peace.

Turkey has excellent relations and of course privileged relations with some EU States. Armenia can follow the example of how those EU States can establish very influential and peaceful cooperation policies that have made the EU10 - former communist countries (non Soviet republics) so highly respected in world influence and foreign policy. Armenia should follow closely the advice of what Joe Biden gave on his European Tour.

If only some of the new EU States could become world powers they would be greatly and well positively received. Unfortunately most of the EU10 States populations are too small. But yet again the EU10 are very influential and highly respected and regarded members of the International Community.

The EU12 States are all Advanced Democracies, Electoral Democracies and have considerable pluralism in their media and other types of internal and external communication tools. All of them have had free and fair elections between 1990 and 1991 onwards including today and will remain so permanently in the future.

They are 'perfect'.

[Haykakan]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

Azg Daily, Armenia
March 27 2010

ARMENIA AND CZECHIA TO COOPERATE IN MILITARY SPHERE

By Nairi Muradian


A delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of
Czech Republic Martin Bartak is paying an official visit to Armenia.

At the administrative complex of the Armenian Defense Ministry, a
military cooperation agreement was signed yesterday between Armenia
and Czechia in spheres of defense education, chemical protection,
expert consultation, historical museology and peacekeeping mission.

"Czechia is a full and active member of European and European-Atlantic
agencies, and cooperation with this country gives Armenia an
opportunity to develop its cooperation within NATO, OSCE and EU", RA
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said after signing the agreement.
According to him, the countries will cooperate in spheres of defense
education, defense health care and peacekeeping mission, as well as
expert consultation and historical museology.

The Czech delegation headed by the Defense Minister of Czechia also
met with Serzh Sargsyan, and paid a tribute of respect to the victims
of the Armenian Genocide at Tsitsernakaberd.

[Federate]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

Chinese Leader Urges Closer Ties With ‘Friendly’ Armenia


Chinese President Hu Jintao described Armenia as a “trustworthy friend” of his country and called for the expansion of bilateral political, economic and cultural ties as he met with his visiting Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisian, on Sunday.

The two men met in Shanghai on the margins of the 2010 World Expo exhibition that opened there at the weekend. Sarkisian was among foreign leaders that attended the opening ceremony.

“China and Armenia have become trustworthy friends and sincere partners since they established diplomatic relations 18 years ago,” the official Xinhua news agency quoted Hu as saying.

The two nations have “always treated each other as equals” and “supported each other” in the international arena, he said. They should therefore step up their inter-governmental contacts, economic cooperation and “people-to-people exchanges,” Hu added, according to Xinhua.

“The presidents of China and Armenia assured each other that they are ready to make additional efforts to expand the friendly Armenian-Chinese relations,” Sarkisian’s office said in a statement. It said they agreed that Beijing and Yerevan have already laid the groundwork for raising bilateral ties to “a qualitatively new level.”

Hu and Sarkisian noted “numerous joint projects” already implemented in various areas and the energy sector in particular, added the statement.

Chinese companies have been involved in the multimillion-dollar reconstruction of two Armenian thermal-power plants. One of those facilities, located in Yerevan, went on stream late last month.

Sarkisian also pointed to the recent launch in northern China of a Chinese-Armenian joint-venture producing synthetic rubber. Much of its technology and equipment was contributed by a big Soviet-era chemical factory located in Yerevan.

The implementation of these and other commercial projects has been accompanied by a rapid growth in Chinese-Armenian trade. According to official Armenian statistics, China surpassed Germany as Armenia’s second largest trading partner after Russia last year and solidified this status in the first quarter of this year.

The total volume of first-quarter commercial exchange between the two countries jumped by 66 percent year on year to $95 million and accounted for 9.4 percent of Armenia’s overall foreign trade. Chinese imports to Armenia made up the bulk of the sum, despite a more than tenfold surge in Armenian exports to China recorded during the three-month period.

According to Sarkisian’s office, the Armenian leader also discussed with Hu possible Chinese involvement in an ambitious project to build a railway connecting Armenia to neighboring Iran. The office did not specify whether they reached any agreement to that effect.

It said in a separate statement that Sarkisian also met in Shanghai with the chief executives of two Chinese corporations specializing in the manufacturing of telecommunication equipment. One of them, Huawei Technologies, is considering investing in Armenia, said the statement.

Sarkisian spoke of his admiration for China’s economic reforms and called for greater Chinese presence in the South Caucasus ahead of his last trip to Beijing in August 2008. He said that would “undoubtedly have a positive impact” on the region.

Earlier in 2008, China pointedly declined to vote for an Azerbaijani-drafted UN General Assembly resolution that demanded an “immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces” from occupied Azerbaijani lands. Armenian leaders regularly praised Beijing for its “balanced” position on the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict both before and after that vote.

Successive Armenian governments, for their part, have voiced unequivocal support for the restoration of Chinese control over Taiwan. Former President Robert Kocharian reaffirmed that support in a joint declaration with Hu signed during a 2004 state visit to Beijing.

According to Xinhua, Sarkisian told Hu on Sunday that he “admires China for its constructive role in international and regional affairs and feels grateful for China's support to Armenia.” The Armenian president was likewise quoted by his office as saying that forging closer links with Beijing remain one of his foreign policy priorities.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/2031184.html

[lampron]

Re: Foreign Relations of Armenia

Armenia should strengthen her ties with Pakistan (and India).
Pakistan, with 200 million people and nuclear weapons, is the most influential Muslim country in the world today