Month: August 2018

168: There were messages in PM Pashinyan’s speech very dangerous for the Constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia, and the fundaments of statehood – Ara Babloyan

Emil Lazarian
| 09:23 | August 21 2018
Category
Politics

President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan issued a statement over the domestic political situation, noting that he plans meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Ombudsman, Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia and representatives of international diplomatic missions to discuss the existing situation.

The statement reads as follows,

“Dear compatriots,

I have attentively followed the activities of the Government during the 100 days and as the head of the parliament I expected to see a program aimed at the preservation of the country’s security, economic development, improvement of people’s welfare and of course further strengthening of democracy from my colleague, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. 100 days might be little time for hearing the complete vision of the PM over these issues and the constructive ways to solve them.

Definitely, I find that it’s necessary to fight against corruption. It’s definitely necessary to fight against monopolies.

I am convinced that people’s voice should always be heard. People should be maximally informed and involved in making the key decisions, since, as we know, the power in Armenia belongs to the people. But when doing all these we must be guided by only and only by the Constitution and laws, as well as by the full respect towards the international commitments assumed by the Republic of Armenia.

In this regard I record with regret that I am deeply concerned by the situation in the country.

The normal social-political life of the country, the legal-constitutional relations of state power bodies and public solidarity are under risk. I see dangers tendencies of dividing the public into supporters of revolution and counterrevolution and deepening of intolerance.

My concerns further rise especially after hearing this remark during PM Pashinyan’s speech. I quote “So I advise everyone to think before speaking. And you say that we limit your freedom of speech. You should first learn to think before speaking and then think about your freedom of speech”.

I have to admit that it was such remarks were unexpected for me to hear from PM Pashinyan for the simple reason that it’s just an encroachment against pluralism.

And frightening the judges and threatening the dissidents by the National Security Service parallel to this is not only a pressure against the judicial body, but also against anyone in the country who holds an opposite opinion.

There were also messages in PM Pashinyan’s speech very dangerous for the Constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia, and the fundaments of statehood, that are in direct contradiction with the international commitments assumed by Armenia for establishing a legal and democratic country.-

Particularly, the way of addressing the judges by the Head of the Executive in a way like this “sober up”, is a merely threat for the independence of the judiciary and an interference to all the ongoing and future judicial examinations and decisions. Under the theory of “transitional justice” an anti-legal hint of giving retroactive effect to the laws was made.

At the same time, the implementation of possible constitutional changes at the National Assembly of Armenia, moreover, with the threat to ensure the desired outcome, is an overt pressure and compulsion against the legislative branch.

For me, this is further incomprehensible given the fact that the opportunities for such discussions and making decisions at the parliament were not exhausted.

Therefore, taking into account the aforementioned, I plan meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Ombudsman, Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia and representatives of international diplomatic missions to discuss the existing situation.

Remaining faithful to my constitutional mission, I assure you that the National Assembly will continue to exercise the powers vested in it by the law."

168: Police Chief presents details over searches conducted at apartments of “thieves-in-law”

Karapet Navasardian
| 12:22 | August 21 2018
Category
Society

Police Chief of Armenia Valeri Osipyan presented details over the searches conducted at the apartments of “thieves-in-law”.

During today’s press conference the Police Chief told reporters that criminal cases have been launched against 4 so-called “thieves-in-law”.

“What was the reason for conducting searches? I have already stated that we have received information that some “thieves-in-law” were going to make clarifications between each other, and in order to prevent this the Police conducted searchers in their apartments in accordance with the law”, he said.

Osipyan informed that as a result of the search operations large amount of narcotics and illegal weapons have been found in their apartments.

168: Bright Armenia and Republic parties to nominate justice minister’s candidacy in Yerevan mayoral elections

Karlen Baghdasarian
| 13:04 | August 21 2018
Category
Politics

Justice minister of Armenia Artak Zeynalyan agreed to lead the list of the Bright Armenia and Republic parties alliance in the upcoming Yerevan City Council elections.

“As a minister of justice I will submit an application for vacation and will participate in the campaign. I will not combine the position of the minister with the candidate status”, the minister told reporters during today’s press conference.

He said the name of the new alliance is still being discussed.

Police Chief assures there are no corruption manifestations in the system

Vardan Badalian
| 14:17 | August 21 2018
Category
Society

Police Chief of Armenia Valeri Osipyan assures that there are no corruption manifestations in the police system.

During today’s press conference Osipyan told reporters that the corruption manifestations are totally eliminated in the police. “I assure our society, officially announce that there are no corruption manifestations in the police. Although I don’t rule out that at the moment any police officer is trying to do something in conditions incomprehensible for me, but I assure you that maybe he will succeed for the first and second times, but after the third attempt he will be jailed”, the Police Chief said.

Commenting on the possibility of wage increase in the police, he said he had a discussion in the government concerning this issue. “The Armenian Prime Minister is well familiar with this issue, and he is very interested in the increase of the salaries of the police officers, but this is linked with the economic situation of our country. Let’s hope that we will have an economic growth, and in that case I am convinced the salaries of the police officers will increase”, the Police Chief said.

He didn’t agree with the view according to which many police officers, who are not involved in corruption manifestations, will leave the system due to the current salaries. “It’s not like that the entire police system has been involved in corruption. There are serious specialists among us, honest police officers who are ready to serve for the benefit of our people, citizen and state”, Valeri Osipyan said.

PM’s August 17 meeting in Republic Square attended by up to 150.000 people

Janet Ekmekjian
| 14:23 | August 21 2018
Category
Politics

The meeting convened by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Republic Square on August 17 was attended by up to 150.000 people, Police Chief Valeri Osipyan told reporters during today’s press conference.

“The August 17 meeting, which was convened by the PM aimed at summing up 100 days of the government’s activity, was attended by up to 150.000 people as there were also people outside the Republic Square”, he said.

He informed that during that day the Police conducted high-level service as a result of which no incident occurred during the meeting.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 08/21/2018

Jack Hunanian 
                                        Tuesday, 

Armenian Minister Seeks To Allay Concerns Over ‘Transitional Justice’

        • Naira Bulghadarian

Armenia - A court building in Yerevan, 27 July 2018.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s plans to set up “bodies of transitional 
justice” do not run counter to Armenia’s constitution or threaten judicial 
independence, Justice Minister Artak Zeynalian insisted on Tuesday.

Pashinian made a case for such bodies when he lambasted Armenian judges at a 
rally held in Yerevan on Friday. He said they may be necessary because “many 
corrupt figures of our judicial system have still not grasped the popular 
revolution” that brought him to power in May.

Pashinian did not specify what concrete forms “transitional justice” in the 
country could take. Nor did he name any of the judges who he said are still 
taking “orders from representatives of the former corrupt authorities.” “Come 
to your senses and don’t mess with the people,” he warned them.

The remarks prompted serious concern from political allies of former President 
Serzh Sarkisian and other critics. Some of them accused Pashinian of seeking to 
gain control over courts through new and unconstitutional bodies. Parliament 
speaker Ara Babloyan suggested on Monday that the premier hinted at “illegal” 
retroactive enforcement of new and punitive laws under the guise of 
“transitional justice.”

Zeynalian dismissed those concerns, saying that the possible introduction of 
new legal mechanisms would not contradict the Armenian constitutional or 
international conventions signed by Armenia.

“No courts will be dissolved and no courts of courts will be set up,” he told a 
news conference. “Our constitution and international obligations will not be 
breached. No special courts will be created. Everything will be legal and aimed 
at restoring human rights.”

The minister too did not explain what exactly “transitional justice” could mean 
in practice in Armenia. He said only that the government is looking into the 
experience of Georgia and other nations that have applied that concept. “We 
will also learn from their mistakes,” he said.

The idea of transitional justice is meant to address large-scale or systematic 
human rights violations in countries emerging from periods of conflict and 
repression. It involves a range of judicial and non-judicial measures, 
including criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, and reparation programs.

Armenian courts have long been known for their lack of independence from the 
government and the law-enforcement apparatus. In the last three months, some of 
them have made decisions strongly criticized by Pashinian and his allies.




Tsarukian’s Bodyguard Freed

        • Naira Bulghadarian

Armenia - Businessman Gagik Tsarukian (R) and his chief bodyguard Eduard 
Babayan (L) take part in an anti-government demonstration in Yerevan, 24 
October 2014.

The chief bodyguard of Gagik Tsarukian, an influential Armenian businessman and 
political figure, was released on bail on Tuesday more than one month after 
being arrested on assault charges.

Eduard Babayan was taken into custody on July 3 hours after a 50-year-old man 
was hospitalized with serious injuries. The latter claimed to have been beaten 
up at a compound of Armenia’s National Olympic Committee headed by Tsarukian. 
He said he was hit by Tsarukian before being repeatedly kicked and punched by 
Babayan and another person.

Both the tycoon and Babayan strongly denied assaulting the man. The burly 
bodyguard was prosecuted even though the alleged victim subsequently retracted 
his incriminating testimony and claimed that he simply stumbled and fell down.

Babayan’s lawyer, Armen Melkonian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that a court 
in Yerevan agreed to free his client pending investigation after he pledged to 
post bail worth 20 million drams ($41,500).

Armenian media have repeatedly implicated Tsarukian’s bodyguards and Babayan in 
particular in violence, including against opponents of the country’s previous 
governments, in the past. The tycoon always denied those claims.

A political force led by Tsarukian boasts the second largest group in the 
Armenian parliament. It also has five ministerial portfolios in Armenia’s 
current government formed in May.




Armenia To Manufacture Advanced Kalashnikov Rifles


Russia -- A participant fires a Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle at the 
Army-2015 international military-technical forum in Kubinka, outside Moscow, 
June 17, 2015

An Armenian company plans to manufacture the latest models of Russia’s 
world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifles, the Defense Ministry in Yerevan 
announced on Tuesday.

The ministry spokesman, Artsrun Hovannisian, said the head of the little-known 
company, Royalsys Engineering, signed in Moscow a manufacturing license 
contract with a senior executive of Kalashnikov Concern, the state-owned small 
arms manufacturer.

Hovannisian reported “the extremely important news” on his Facebook page, 
saying that the deal paves the way for the production in Armenia of 
Kalashnikov’s AK-12 and AK-15 models which Russia’s Armed Forces adopted as 
their main service rifles earlier this year. He said nothing about production 
volumes and dates.

Photographs posted by Hovannisian showed Armenian Defense Minister Davit 
Tonoyan attending the signing ceremony.


Russia - Top executives of the Armenian company Royalsys Engineering and 
Russia's Kalashnikov Concern sign an agreement in Moscow, .

Kalashnikov’s older AK-74 rifles and PK machine guns are currently the 
principle light weapons of the Armenian army. The deal reported by Hovannisian 
suggests that the Armenian Defense Ministry may be planning to gradually 
replace AK-74s with the more advanced AK-12 and AK-15 versions designed in 2011.

Kalashnikov Concern opened an official representation in Yerevan in 2014 at a 
ceremony attended by then Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian. The latter noted at 
the time that Russian-Armenian agreements call for the creation of joint 
defense ventures. One of them allows Armenian and Russian defense companies to 
supply each other with equipment, assembly parts and other materials needed for 
the production, modernization and repair of various weapons.

Tonoyan flew to Moscow on Monday to attend the opening ceremonies of an 
international defense exhibition and security conference organized by the 
Russian military. He held on Tuesday separate meetings with top executives with 
Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-run arms exporter, and the Almaz-Antey defense 
corporation.

Almaz-Antey produces, among other things, surface-to-surface missiles and 
sophisticated S-400 air-defense systems. According to the Defense Ministry, 
Tonoyan told the company’s deputy executive director, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, that 
some of its products are of interest to Armenia. No further details were 
reported.




Press Review



“Zhoghovurd” dismisses Monday’s statement by parliament speaker Ara Babloyan 
that accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of stifling dissent and 
jeopardizing the constitutional order in Armenia. The paper says that Babloyan 
and other representatives of the country’s former leadership have no moral 
right to voice such complaints because they were part of a regime that had for 
years restricted civil liberties. It claims that Babloyan did not protest when 
Serzh Sarkisian “humiliated” the National Assembly.

“The public’s expectations from the government mainly relate to economic 
development and that is natural,” writes “Haykakan Zhamanak.” “Some people 
constantly criticize the government for having no clear economic program. In 
fact, the government’s program is very clear and obvious to everyone at this 
stage. In the past 100 days the government has been busy mainly eliminating 
obstacles to economic growth. Namely, fighting corruption, favoritism and 
oligopolies. The achievements of the 100 days are obvious. This will be 
followed by the next phase when the business will start making large-scale 
investments in our economy. That should lead to the kind of economic 
development which will boost living standards.”

“Hraparak” takes a more critical look at the first results of Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian’s tenure. “It is not encouraging that 100 days after taking 
office the government regards the [former ruling] HHK as a target and considers 
the fight against ‘counterrevolutionaries’ to be its mission,” explains the 
paper. When the entire public becomes the government’s target we may take note 
of [government] steps towards progress and see light in the tunnel.”

In an interview with “Aravot,” Igor Nazaruk, Belarus’s ambassador to Armenia, 
defends his country’s arms supplies to Azerbaijan. Nazaruk says that 
Azerbaijani-Belarusian defense contracts do not violate any international 
conventions.

(Tigran Avetisian)


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

Speaker Babloyan issues statement over domestic political situation

Jane Topchian
ArmenPress, Armenia
Aug 20 2018
Speaker Babloyan issues statement over domestic political situation


YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan issued a statement over the domestic political situation, noting that he plans meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Ombudsman, Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia and representatives of international diplomatic missions to discuss the existing situation, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia.

The statement reads as follows,

“Dear compatriots,

I have attentively followed the activities of the Government during the 100 days and as the head of the parliament I expected to see a program aimed at the preservation of the country’s security, economic development, improvement of people’s welfare and of course further strengthening of democracy from my colleague, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. 100 days might be little time for hearing the complete vision of the PM over these issues and the constructive ways to solve them.

Definitely, I find that it’s necessary to fight against corruption. It’s definitely necessary to fight against monopolies.

I am convinced that people’s voice should always be heard. People should be maximally informed and involved in making the key decisions, since, as we know, the power in Armenia belongs to the people. But when doing all these we must be guided by only and only by the Constitution and laws, as well as by the full respect towards the international commitments assumed by the Republic of Armenia.

In this regard I record with regret that I am deeply concerned by the situation in the country.

The normal social-political life of the country, the legal-constitutional relations of state power bodies and public solidarity are under risk. I see dangers tendencies of dividing the public into supporters of revolution and counterrevolution and deepening of intolerance.

My concerns further rise especially after hearing this remark during PM Pashinyan’s speech. I quote “So I advise everyone to think before speaking. And you say that we limit your freedom of speech. You should first learn to think before speaking and then think about your freedom of speech”.

I have to admit that it was such remarks were unexpected for me to hear from PM Pashinyan for the simple reason that it’s just an encroachment against pluralism.

And frightening the judges and threatening the dissidents by the National Security Service parallel to this is not only a pressure against the judicial body, but also against anyone in the country who holds an opposite opinion.

There were also messages in PM Pashinyan’s speech very dangerous for the Constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia, and the fundaments of statehood, that are in direct contradiction with the international commitments assumed by Armenia for establishing a legal and democratic country.

Particularly, the way of addressing the judges by the Head of the Executive in a way like this “sober up”, is a merely threat for the independence of the judiciary and an interference to all the ongoing and future judicial examinations and decisions. Under the theory of “transitional justice” an anti-legal hint of giving retroactive effect to the laws was made.

At the same time, the implementation of possible constitutional changes at the National Assembly of Armenia, moreover, with the threat to ensure the desired outcome, is an overt pressure and compulsion against the legislative branch.

For me, this is further incomprehensible given the fact that the opportunities for such discussions and making decisions at the parliament were not exhausted.

Therefore, taking into account the aforementioned, I plan meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Ombudsman, Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia and representatives of international diplomatic missions to discuss the existing situation.

Remaining faithful to my constitutional mission, I assure you that the National Assembly will continue to exercise the powers vested in it by the law. "

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

Pashinyan forging relations with Russia at level of ‘toasts’ – former Armenia’s ruling party

Elizabeth Jabejian
Interfax – Russia & CIS General Newswire
Monday 1:54 PM MSK
Pashinyan forging relations with Russia at level of 'toasts' – former Armenia's ruling party
 
 YEREVAN. Aug 20
 
The Republican Party, Armenia's former ruling party, considers Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's foreign policy, including on Russia, to be wrong, Eduard Sharmazanov, press secretary of the Republican Party and deputy speaker of the parliament, told Interfax on Monday.
 
Speaking at a rally in downtown Yerevan on Friday, Pashinyan said, "Neither the West nor our partners in Russia have fully come to grips with the new situation in Armenia. And saying that Armenian-Russian relations are worsening today is just ridiculous. In the past 100 days, I have met with Russian President Vladimir Putin twice, and we have spoken on the phone three times. The relationship between the two countries is good and will get even better, step by step,"
 
Pashinyan also announced an Armenian-Russian humanitarian project, which he described as unique, but did not provide detail.
 
Commenting on the prime minister's speech, Sharmazanov said he believes that Pashinyan is forging international relations at the level of "toasts."
 
"We are not concerned about the future of Armenian-Russian relations, which was announced at the rally, we are just worried: there are reasons to be worried. The new administration is building relations with Russia at the level of toasts, but international relations are not built by making toasts, and it is said that 'the main thing in politics is effectiveness, not talking'," Sharmazanov said.
 
"Pashinyan can say all he wants, but that's not the main thing. The main thing is the result, and the result is the tough evaluation of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Lavrov of the policies of the new Armenian administration," he said.
 
The Russian minister earlier said he was concerned by the recent detentions of high-ranking officials in Armenia, saying that they contradict the statements made by the new administration of the country saying that their political predecessors will not be persecuted.
 
av gc ar

Sports: ConIFA European Cup to be held in Nagorno-Karabakh

Garnik Tadevosian
OC Media
Aug 21 2018

by OC Media

Players from Nagorno-Karabakh (right) during a past ConIFA tour­na­ment (conifa.org)

The Con­fed­er­a­tion of Inde­pen­dent Football Asso­ci­a­tions (ConIFA) announced on 19 August that Nagorno-Karabakh would host its 2019 European Football Cup. It promised to specify soon the exact June dates and other details of the tour­na­ment, which will be held in capital Stepanakert.

ConIFA, an inter­na­tion­al organ­i­sa­tion based in Sweden, is comprised of teams rep­re­sent­ing regions, minori­ties, and unrecog­nised states that are inel­i­gi­ble to join FIFA or the Union of European Football Asso­ci­a­tions as national teams.

ConIFA said rep­re­sen­ta­tives visited Nagorno-Karabakh — a ‘rel­a­tive­ly undis­cov­ered part of the world’ — several times, and are now ‘confident’ in their choice.

Narine Agha­balyan, the sports minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, hailed the news, saying the tour­na­ment ‘will be a wonderful cel­e­bra­tion of sport, culture, and friend­ship’.

The Azer­bai­jani Football Fed­er­a­tion Asso­ci­a­tion ‘strongly condemned’ the tour­na­ment planned on ‘Azer­bai­jani ter­ri­to­ries occupied by Armenia’ and vowed to ‘take every necessary legal step’ to counter it, as well as formally contact the Inter­na­tion­al Fed­er­a­tion of Asso­ci­a­tion Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Asso­ci­a­tions.

The 2019 games would be the third ConIFA European Cup tour­na­ment. The first was held in 2015 in Hungary, but players from both Abkhazia and South Ossetia were refused entry to the country. Following this, the Fed­er­a­tion decided to hold its 2016 World Cup in Abkhazia. The home team even­tu­al­ly won the cup.

According to the organ­i­sa­tion, 12 teams are to compete in Nagorno-Karabakh next year, with places guar­an­teed for the winners of previous European and World Cups: Padania — the sep­a­ratist region of northern Italy that won both European Cups, Northern Cyprus, Abkhazia, and Kár­pá­tal­ja — rep­re­sent­ing the Hungarian minority in the south­west­ern Zakarpattya region of Ukraine.

In 2014, the Nagorno-Karabakh football team, normally deprived of oppor­tu­ni­ties to compete in inter­na­tion­al games, took part in ConIFA’s first World Football Cup — together with Abkhazia and South Ossetia — in Östersund, Sweden. They finished in ninth place out of 12.

ConIFA neglected the Azer­bai­jani Football Fed­er­a­tion Association’s protests against Nagorno-Karabakh par­tic­i­pa­tion then, and hasn’t yet commented on the latest statement.

FIFA includes 23 members that aren’t sovereign United Nations members — like Gibraltar, Wales, and Palestine — however they cat­e­gorise the disputed ter­ri­to­ries in the South Caucasus as ‘polit­i­cal­ly sensitive areas’.

ConIFA’s tour­na­ments serve as an alter­na­tive to FIFA’s larger cham­pi­onships. The con­fed­er­a­tion also includes the Western Armenian football team, which claims to represent the Armenian diaspora across the world.

Attempts to organise inter­na­tion­al football tour­na­ments outside FIFA date back to the late 1990s. In 2014, ConIFA succeeded the annual VIVA World Cup, a similar FIFA-unaf­fil­i­at­ed tour­na­ment held from 2006–2012.

Par­tic­i­pa­tion in inter­na­tion­al athletic events is a common bone of con­tention in the South Caucasus. In August, the Georgian Football Fed­er­a­tion protested a match in Sukhumi (Sukhum) between Abkhazian and Nigerian youth teams.

For ease of reading, we choose not to use qual­i­fiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecog­nised’, or ‘partially recog­nised’ when dis­cussing insti­tu­tions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.

Azerbaijani Press: US pressuring Iran’s neighbors: learning from the past

Hambik Zargarian
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 21 2018
16:27 (UTC+04:00)

By  Trend

It seems that the White House is very serious in its intention to strangle Iran's economy, and President Trump's words that the new sanctions imposed on Tehran are the toughest sanctions that have ever been imposed, is not an empty rhetoric.

For the fear of losing huge US market, many major European companies have already halted their activities in the Islamic Republic. The EU’s trade with Iran will, at best, continue at the level of small and medium-sized businesses, which for Iran means the actual loss of the European market.

Apart from the goal of zeroing Iranian oil exports, Washington has also taken on Iran's immediate neighbors, including Turkey and Iraq, which are among Tehran's top trade partners, in an effort to block their trade ties with Tehran as much as possible.

A week ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had to demonstrate the art of compromise, after the representative of the US state Department Heather Nauert warned him against violating the sanctions regime against Iran and that otherwise Iraq itself risks falling under sanctions.

Considering what's currently going on, this could have grave consequences for Iraq.

Despite the small volume of trade between Armenia and Iran, it also received a message from Washington.

One of these days, the US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills notified Armenian businessmen intending to do business with Iran that they should check with the US Embassy before concluding any deals with Iranian companies in order not to fall under the effect of secondary sanctions, Armenian media reported.

Furthermore, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that the specific dates of the official visit of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Tehran had not been determined yet.

This is anything but good news for Armenia, the local media outlets have claimed.

Meanwhile, not so long ago both officials and local media were vying with one another to say that he would go to Iran in the shortest possible time, and that the program of the visit would include economic issues.

Turkey has also been subjected to strong pressure from the US. Washington insists that Turkey should join the broad sanctions against Iran.

Ankara has rejected the American demands: “Iran is both our neighbor and our strategic partner and severing ties with Tehran on America’s whim goes against Turkey’s understanding of sovereignty,” Turkish President Erdogan said in late July.

Turkey's refusal to join the anti-Iranian sanctions caused a wave of rage in Washington, followed by attempts to apply punitive measures against Ankara.

Finally, few days ago Iranian Financial Tribune, referring to Al Bawaba, reported that the latest US sanctions against Iran are forcing many Iranian businesses in the United Arab Emirates, which has recently become a major trade hub of Iranian goods, to move to other countries, and that trade between the UAE and Iran is slowing down.

The experience of the previous US sanctions has shown that neighboring countries, especially Turkey and the UAE, played an important if not a savior role in the most critical times for the Iranian economy (2011-2014).

It is not a secret that Turkey and the UAE acted as re-‎exporting intermediary countries to Iran during the pre-JCPOA sanctions.

Iran successfully used different ways to bypass the previous sanctions regime by using its numerous subsidiaries in Turkey and Emirates for payment and delivery of goods, arranging cash movement to and from Iran through money-exchange houses in Istanbul and Dubai, and even carrying large amounts of cash in suitcases.

Statistical data from Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization show that the country’s import and export with Turkey was almost continually growing within years of the toughest sanctions. As for trade with the UAE at that period, the picture is not so obvious.

After it has become clear that the nuclear agreement would be signed, the trade indicators with Turkey and the UAE went down as Iran was getting the opportunity to trade directly with the countries that had previously complied with the sanctions regime.

Today, Washington is trying to learn from the recent past, limiting Iran's trade relations with neighboring countries by any means possible. If it succeeds, Tehran will fall on harsh times.