Rebuking Ankara for allowing its cultural cousin and strategic ally Azerbaijan get in the way of Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, Sargsyan claimed that Turkey’s relations with Azerbaijan undermine regional security and reconciliation. “A pair of pipelines going to your neighbor is not going to bring you the security and welfare you want,” reasoned Sargsyan in reference to Azerbaijani energy exports, a trump card in Baku’s dealings with Ankara.
Sargsyan was not reported as addressing Armenia’s own role in the failure of the talks with Turkey.
After tanking by more than 18.2 percent in 2009, the Armenian economy could definitely use some Chinese cash. Hundreds of millions of dollars in life support from international donors have not yet made up for that amputated economic growth.
On the sidelines of the World Expo, where China flaunted its booming economy, Sargsayn signed a cooperation memo with Chinese telecommunication technology giant Huawei Technologies. Sargsyan tried to gauge the interest of Huawei and its rival Zhong Xing Equipment in several projects in Armenia.
International development groups have urged Armenia to diversify its sources of income after revenues from foreign remittances and its once booming construction sector dried up amidst the global financial crisis.
