Armenian media ignored the peace messages

Baku/13.12.20/Turan: Turkish President R.T. Erdogan announced in Baku the opportunity for Armenia to take part in the activities of the economic six: Platforms of Six (Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Georgia, and Armenia). President Aliyev supports Erdogan's idea. He believes that Armenia should recognition the new post-war realities around Karabakh. On December 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov approved the Platform of Six.

On December 10, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian announced that he had prepared a roadmap for overcoming the severe systemic crisis in Armenia. The media of this country did not mention the inclusion of an item on economic cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the roadmap. On the same day, press secretary of the Prime Minister of Armenia Mane Gevorgyan, commenting on the words of President I. Aliyev, who spoke at the parade about the historical Azerbaijani lands in Armenia, said that international recognition of the right of “Artsakh Armenians to self-determination is more than relevant as a way prevent new genocidal aspirations of Azerbaijanis against Artsakh Armenians."

M. Gevorgyan, the Armenian press,  and the Yerevan politician  say nothing about the speeches of R.T. Erdogan and I.Aliyev, in which they invited Armenia to economic cooperation if Yerevan renounces its territorial claims to other states.

Only Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan spoke positively about the prospect of economic recovery in the country in business relations with Azerbaijan. He said that the opening of the borders would positively affect the economic state of Armenia and help bring its products to the world level. He sees possible the use of Turkish ports and joint market business with Azerbaijan. The Minister of Economy of Armenia expressed interest in a new industrial hub in Azerbaijani Sumgayit; but the next day, being obstructed by the local press and politicians, Kerobyan asked journalists "cut his words out of context."

So far, there is no need to talk about an early Azerbaijani-Armenian economic cooperation.  The logic of the trilateral Statement on Karabakh signed on November 10, 2020 speaks of the signatories' intention to develop peace and economic relations. This is stated in the ninth paragraph of the Statement, dedicated to the opening of the railway along the Meghri section of Armenia, between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan territory. What other economic preferences can Azerbaijan receive from trade with Armenia?

The Armenian economy can offer what it sells to Russia, it is the most accessible and vast foreign market for Armenian business. In January-July 2020, Armenia exported to Russia semi-finished products of precious metals (exports fell sharply to $ 278 million), ferroalloys (59 million) and cigarettes (106 million), copper and other concentrate (332 million dollars), fresh fruits, vegetables ($ 44 million), clothing ($ 51 million) and cognac ($ 83 million).

Shahmar Agabalaev, Ph.D. in Economics, considers it premature to start a polemic around the restoration of trade and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In an interview for Turan, he recalled that a peaceful Azerbaijani-Armenian agreement had not been concluded. Revanchist sentiments in Armenia are still very strong. The primary task of Armenian diplomacy is to recognize the "independence of the NKR". Recently there was a provocation in the Hadrut region against Azercell employees and our military. Therefore, at present, our society and the business elite are hardly motivated to restore these ties as soon as possible.

“On the other hand, Armenian goods can hardly be of interest to our consumer. The goods that Armenia presents for export: cigarettes, cognac, agricultural products, clothing, footwear are widely represented in our market by manufacturers from other countries. It is unlikely that products labeled made in Armenia can compete with those sold in Azerbaijan. It is difficult to imagine an Azerbaijani drinking and smoking Armenian brandy and a cigarette.

The revitalization of our trade relations may begin in third countries (Georgia), between individual citizens. If earlier the purchase and transportation of Armenian goods to our territory was suppressed by state bodies, now this will not be a problem. So the society and market of Azerbaijan can gradually adapt to the appearance of these goods. In the future, it will be the turn of big business.

Press reports show that the products of our food industry are in demand in the Armenian market. First, the wholesale warehouses of Azersun in Georgia can start selling their products to Armenian merchants. Thus, a shift from military rhetoric to economic peace may begin. It is impossible to exclude the beginning of trade relations at the interstate level through the supply of the products of our oil industry to Armenia, summed up economist Sh.Agabalaev.

Let us add that the Armenian press has repeatedly reported on the sale of Azerbaijani Azersun tea, or our tea in bulk, without branded packaging, in stores in this country. When planning the export of cars assembled in Azerbaijan, the manufacturer announced its intention to sell cars throughout the region.--0--