Karabakh Conflict Should Not Overshadow Iran-Armenia Trade
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry says while Armenia is turning to become one of Iran’s major trade partners, we should not let this economic and trade relation be overshadowed by the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
According to the public relations of the chamber, Hervik Yarijanian referred to the trade volume of Iran and Armenia, saying that the trade volume has almost been doubled in the past year and has increased from $300m to $600m. He also stipulated that this achievement has been obtained since Iran’s joining to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as an observer member and the figure would definitely grow manifold as well it would development economic relations with other members of the union.
He then pointed to the political and military dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, adding that it should not affect Iran and Armenia’s bilateral trade. He said while the Islamic Republic of Iran as an impartial country tries to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to prevent adding the fuel to the fire on dispute, we should not harm the country’s impartiality and peace-seeking attitude with small mistakes.
Yarijanian then deplored that some of exported trade consignments to Armenia have been delayed unreasonably at the border of both countries, noting that the exported goods are mostly of the textile commodities whose trade have not been banned by both countries.
He reiterated that one should not forget that in all countries in the region when the trend of exports of Iranian goods is halted, this is Turkey which immediately penetrates in that market and tightens the noose around Iranian exporters.
Yarijanian expressed hope that the related bodies would immediately step in to resolve the current problem at the border of Iran and Armenia. He reiterated that while the hostile sanctions have affected Iran’s foreign trade, the country should not easily miss the trade opportunity with EEU members especially with Armenia.
