AEPLAC URGES FOR SWEEPING ECONOMIC REFORMS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS:Director of the Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advising Center (AELAC) Tigran Jrbashian complained today that European investors were unable to grasp the core of economic rules effective in Armenia. Speaking to a news conference he said Armenia has to carry out sweeping economic reforms to make the country attractive to foreign investors, but the problem, according to him, is how to press for these reforms to crate an effective institutionalism attractive to European investors and secure Armenia a place at European markets. Jrbashian pointed out that the EU has assumed a special policy towards Armenia increasing imports of Armenian molybdenum, alluvium and copper, which he said may be caused by Russia’s drive to become an energy super- power, which in turn forces Europeans to seek to diversify their energy fuel resources. In this sense, he said, Armenia may become a transit country for shipment of Iranian gas to Europe. Jrbashian then advocated the open borders with Turkey saying that would benefit both sides.