Armenia's fiasco in Moscow
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
The visit of an Armenian delegation to Moscow has been named a "fiasco" after the details of talks were made public.
The delegation led by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan left Moscow to Yerevan empty-handed, wrote the local media.
Haykanak Zhamanak, a local newspaper, said the Armenian officials could not manage to fulfil their goals in Russia.
"The Armenian side has not got any positive reply from the Russian rulers in regard to any issue included in the agenda," the newspaper noted.
The delegation visited Moscow to attend a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in a hope to negotiate with the Russian side on certain reduction in tariff of the gas exported to Armenia.
In other words, Armenia desired to offer Russia a payment in rubles, which could facilitate the possible decrease in the price of gas. But, the northern giant's silence on this proposal hinted to an unwillingness to realize any reduction.
Furthermore, the Armenian delegation pinned a great hope to attract huge Russian investments or receive a large loan from Moscow. The second mission of the delegation also turned to be impossible, as the Russian rulers emerged half-hearted once again.
Following the fiasco in Moscow, the local media started to say that Abrahamyan's failure hints to a critical point in Armenia-Russia economic relations.
Russia's inability to support Armenia will lead to Yerevan's quest for new financial sources and markets, according to some experts.
In this case, Russia is confused over Armenia's importance, as it wants neither to feed its neighbor, nor to lost control over the country, experts added.
Russia is also playing a role of a huge barrier tackling Armenia's economic aspirations. For instance, it doesn't allow Armenia to establish gas relations with Iran. It also blocks Armenia to clinch a deal with the U.S. on Vorotan cascade hydropower plant, and prevents Armenia from signing a Free Trade Zone deal with the European Union.
Nonetheless, some experts believe that Russia has already recognized the deteriorating conditions of Armenia economy. Aravot.am, a local media outlet, claimed that the Russian servicemen in the military base in Armenia are taking their families out of the country.
Meanwhile, Zoghovurd, a local newspaper, wrote that the presidential administration of Armenia has held a hot discussion over dismissal of Abrahamyan, who miscarried his duties in terms of country's economic growth. But Abrahamyan has convinced President Serzh Sargsyan that he should stay next to him amid the new political war with opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan, said the newspaper.
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