The fight against monopolies in Armenia can be successful when it begins with elimination of Russian monopolies
“The two countries can carry out comprehensive projects on railway, gas and energy sectors with all countries in the region,” – announced Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the meeting with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian on June 5 in Tehran. He also emphasized, “Although a progress has been observed in the economic relations between the two countries, however, we have not yet reached the desired level, hence, the expansion of these relations is important.” In other words, if once the former ministers of energy and natural resources had significantly announced that Iran “has not made us an offer” associated with gas supply and transit, and bringing in gas and oil products from Siberian meadows to Armenia is “profitable” and only a few people in Armenia objected it, then Iranian official’s statement gives at least a ground to re-address this issue. Indeed, now Yerevan is going to officially say and most importantly, do. It looks that the actions generating from this should have been unambiguous. It is clear that Armenia having all opportunities for the transition of railway connection, gas and electricity should have begun long ago, a day before implementing these projects hastily. However, in the case of official Yerevan, as the experience shows, “life is more complicated.” Armenia had handed over the aforementioned spheres to Russia step-by-step, explaining that allegedly it derives from our economic national security interests, or like in the case of the railway saying that “Russians manage better”. The reality is that Armenia and Iran do not have any problem but one, and this problem is Russia, a problem that was created by the fault of the Armenian authorities and direct participation.
The ball, as they say, is in the Armenian field and the authorities are obligated to solve this problem. The Government of Armenia has once again announced that it has launched a fight against monopolies. They talk about sugar, oil and bananas. Good for them. It is even ridiculous that these spheres can be in someone’s hands in the 21st century. But it is more ridiculous in the political field, in the background of banana, in addition to unique figures, no one sees and does not want to see the gas and oil markets and the railway. To date, these spheres are given the status of Indian cow, they are out-of-discussion and are considered “natural” monopolies.
Moscow is dragging Baku into the tripartite negotiations with Iran to take over all communications going to the north from Iran. And Azerbaijan is number one ally to Moscow here. It is clear that in the case of Armenia, these communications will be continued to Georgia, then to the Black Sea and will become “anti-Russian,” hence, Moscow’s choice is quite clear. It is unclear when official Yerevan has grown numb and demonstrated no willingness to divert the situation to its advantage.
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Georgia and Iran have agreed since last year to combine efforts for the development of communications and the use of transit opportunities. In particular, the Iranian side had expressed its interest in exporting its energy supplies carriers to Europe in Georgia, they have obtained mutual agreements. The only missing link here is Armenia where it is the “Gazprom’s” monopoly in the gas sector, the “Rosneft’s” monopoly in the import of petroleum and the railway is the monopoly of Russian Railways, whose prominent leader once said that it is “pointless” to build Iran-Armenia railway, plus Russian border guards are standing on Armenia-Iran border, in regard to which no political force has officially raised a question before the authorities: What are they doing there?
In fact, the monopolies in Armenia are starting from Russian monopolies, and the fight against monopolies will be perceived as the next “wind” if it does not touch the Russian monopolies. And the indicator of the success in this fight is not to allow an importer of two or three bananas to the market but the dismantling of Russian monopolies. It also depends on how much we will succeed to use the enormous potentials of our relations with Iran. Russia in this respect is our opponent together with Azerbaijan.
Yes, they want to bypass Armenia. With joint efforts, they are trying to show Iran Armenia’s “lack of any prospect”, by destroying the Georgian-Iranian agreements. And they will show if Yerevan does not prove otherwise and does not fully open its opportunities before the infrastructure projects. Free and without a visa in-and-out is not enough. There should be Armenian-Iranian rather than de facto Russian-Iranian border on Aras River, which continues keeping Armenia in de facto Russian “storeroom” status.
Ruben MEHRABYAN
“Aravot”
