Vahan V. Yeghiazaryan, acting president of Zargatsum (Development) social movement
On May 30, the European Parliament issued the Report on security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the common security and defence policy. The document underlines that sustainable peace and human security in the EaP region is essential for the EU.
Among other things, the document admits that the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) can serve as one of the formats for using investment that promotes mutual security and stability in critical infrastructure. The European Parliament believes that the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) should be opened to include EaP countries. The report also welcomes the will to explore enhanced sectoral cooperation in the field of energy security with interested EaP-associated partners.
StrategEast interviewed key experts from EaP countries. Here are the comments from Armenia.
– What kinds of sectorial cooperation in the EU could best protect preserving critical infrastructure and energy security in your country?
Armenia has huge unused potential in solar energy. EU has been already supporting Armenia and its rapidly growing solar industry, but that is not enough. Armenia is mainly interested in launching new small and medium solar stations, which can increase energy security of Armenia. TSI may have its role in this process by supporting new projects implementation in Armenia and promoting sectorial cooperation between European and Armenian companies. The next best example of sectoral cooperation between Armenia and TSI countries is digitalization. Armenian IT industry is growing very fast. It has its unicorns and unicorn candidates, also has strong SMEs. Armenian IT industry is able to provide high-quality and at the same time cost effective services, solutions and products for its TSI partners. Collaboration in this field is built mainly on private business interests, but there is a big potential to boost it additionally, by implementing sectoral cooperation and business support programs.
– Do you believe that your country can benefit from entering the Three Seas Initiative? Armenia is a part of Eurasian Economic Union and cannot join TSI as a member, but can become a valuable partner. Armenia can add new opportunities to the European North-South “Via Carpatia” project by bounding it to the Caucasus and Iran. In the upcoming years Armenia will finish its North-South Road Program, which will bound Agarak – Armenian village on the Iranian border, with Armenian-Georgian border and then with the EU. So, Georgia, Armenia, Iran and EU can increase mutual trade using “Nordooz (Iran) – Agarak (Armenia) – Batumi (Georgia) – “Via Carpatia” (Constanta (Romania) – Klaipeda (Latvia)) transport corridor. Railroad also can be added to this transport corridor taking into account the possibility of opening Iran-Armenia-Georgia railway communication in the future. So, Armenia is a critical partner for EU, in this field and EU can support the opening and secure usage of this transport communications in the region.
