Armenia’s new hopes versus Russia's influence
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Strong financial pressure on Armenia has pushed the authorities to embark on a hunt for additional financial resources across the globe.
Since Armenia's integration into the Eurasian Economic Union failed to manifest the hopes Yerevan pinned on, Armenia officials have had to look outside the box in view of salvaging its ailing economy.
As it happens Armenia is looking toward the European Union and oil-rich Arabic countries to become the main actors of its recovery.
Local newspaper, Hraparak reports that Armenian parliamentarians and the prime minister organized trips abroad in view of rallying support to its economic cause.
Premier Hovik Abrahamyan went first to Kuwait, an oil-rich land on the Arabian peninsula, where he visited with a squad of high-level figures, including the ministers of agriculture, economy, emergency situations and others.
A meeting with the managing board of Kuwait's Investment Agency was Abrahamyan's top mission.
Following a series of meetings with top Kuwaiti investors, the premier's aim is to convince Armenia's community in Kuwait to allocate a financial aid package to Armenia, said the newspaper.
Meanwhile, groups consisting of Armenian parliamentarians traveled to Western countries to revive talks and bilateral collaboration.
Another newspaper in Yerevan, Haykanak Zhamanak assures that despite a number of European events due in Yerevan in the upcoming days, the authorities will not be able to revive relations with the European Union.
The signing of an Armenia-EU agreement does not depend on the involved parties as much as it depends on Moscow's nod.
The newspaper believes that Russia's grab of Crimea from Ukraine following the latter's handshake with the European Union intimidated Armenia.
An easy prey for Russia compared to Ukraine, Armenia could face severe problems should its officials attempt to broker an agreement with the EU without Moscow's approval.
"If Moscow says "no," President Serzh Sargsyan will not dare to ink any deal with Europe," the newspaper wrote.
To this end, Armenian legislators' promising visit towards the West would most probably end in zero result as far as Russia's breath is on Armenia's neck both as a regional neighbor and a partner country at the EEU.
Therefore, Armenia's officials' visits to the EU are likely to bring no real developments.
And yet, Armenia is longing for better relations with western powers.
Regardless of developments, Armenia will still receive some $400 million financial aid from the EU, have claimed experts.
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