Day: May 15, 2024

FAO: Azerbaijan has an opportunity to demonstrate the innovative achievements in the agro-industrial sector to the …  AZERTAC News

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending €236 million to Armenia to finance the construction of the southern section of the Sisian-Kajaran road.

This is the largest road infrastructure project ever financed by the EBRD in Armenia. It was previously complemented by technical cooperation funding generously provided by the European Union (EU). These funds were used to undertake the feasibility study as well as the environmental and social impact assessment.

The loan agreement was signed today by the Minister of Finance of Armenia, Vahe Hovhannisyan, and EBRD Managing Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Group, Nandita Parshad during the EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Yerevan. The signing took place before the Armenia Investment Outlook session, in front of more than 200 official guests.

The funding will allow the Government of Armenia to build 24 kilometres of a new southern road section between Sisian and Kajaran, which is part of the North-South Road Corridor. The new road will enhance Armenia’s local, regional, and international connectivity, and the country’s access to international markets via the Black Sea. This important infrastructure project is aligned with EU flagship initiatives for improved land transport connectivity and building resilience in the southern regions of Armenia. The EBRD actively supports the EU Global Gateway strategy. The road will also enhance local and inter-regional connectivity by providing a faster and safer connection between the Syunik region and Yerevan, reducing the travel distance and time by half. 

As Armenia is landlocked, solid road infrastructure is crucial for an efficient flow of trade that can support the value chain, increase diversification and accelerate the growth of the private sector and the economy as a whole.

EBRD Managing Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Group, Nandita Parshad said: “We appreciate Armenia’s aspiration to develop a transport and logistics infrastructure that will enhance its regional connectivity and integration with external markets. We support this project because it meets our strategic objectives in Armenia and the region. We are also grateful to our partner, the European Union, which provided technical cooperation support to ease the implementation of this important initiative.”

The EBRD is one of the largest institutional financiers in Armenia. For the past five years the Bank has invested €640 million in the country, supporting private sector development, infrastructure enhancement, renewable energy generation and rural digitalisation.

To date, the EBRD has invested over €2.1 billion in 211 projects across Armenia.

EU delegates at the rally in Tbilisi

The adoption of the “Transparency of Foreign Influence” law, commonly referred to as the “Russian law” in Georgian society, coincided with the visit of the EU delegation to Georgia. Its representatives heavily criticized the “foreign agents” bill.

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• Georgian Parliament approved the “foreign agents bill” in the third and final reading
• Freedom House condemns repression of peaceful demonstrators in Georgia
• Opponents of ‘foreign agents bill’ detained near Parliament amid heavy police presence

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“The adopted law is a step taken in a very wrong direction,” stated Pavel Fischer, Chairman of the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security, at a press conference held on May 14 after meetings in Tbilisi.

Fischer said that amendments to this law would not improve the situation. He also mentioned other laws recently passed by the Georgian parliament or currently under consideration.

Specifically, he referred to the law on offshore companies or the propaganda against the LGBT community:

“All these laws show us the inconsistency with the path we see for Georgia’s European integration and the possibility of cooperation.”

“A Georgian nightmare,” characterized the current situation in Georgia by the Chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Žygimantas Pavilionis.

He recalled Lithuania’s history when it tried to join the European Union. In 1997, Lithuania was similar to Georgia, Pavilionis said:

“We didn’t listen to Brussels back then: ‘Oh, these Europeans with their sovereign rights.’ And we weren’t invited to join the negotiations; only Estonia was invited.”

According to Pavilionis, it took Lithuania two years to convince the Council of Europe to start accession negotiations.

He emphasized that only the best could achieve membership in the European Union. It’s a competition, and a country seeking to join must convince all officials in the European Commission, all countries, which is undoubtedly challenging.

Pavilionis stated that the “Georgian nightmare” is now competing with the worst of countries:

“I’ve heard that Hungary is trying to adopt a similar law; I’ve heard that Kyrgyzstan recently adopted it. There’s not even a chance to enter the European Union with it; only the best will get in, and they are not the best.”

“I am disappointed,” said Michael Roth, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, who is also in Tbilisi.

According to him, the ruling party is making incorrect forecasts. And one of the worst things that can happen is the loss of reputation and trust:

“In these difficult times, reputation and authority are a huge, huge, huge plus. I am very disappointed because not only the government and the parliamentary majority, but also the people will have to pay a high price for this.”

Roth also spoke about sanctions. According to his information, civil society activists and parliamentarians are calling for their imposition. But the most severe sanction is the loss of candidate status.

“In June, the European Union and the European Commission are going to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, but where is Georgia? It’s terrible.”

Michael Roth also touched upon the possible suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens. He stated that the EU does not want to punish the younger generation because the cessation of visa-free travel will affect people who are now on the streets, but continuing as before is no longer possible:

“Our recommendation to the EU and our governments is that we cannot continue business as usual.”

EU delegates at the rally in Tbilisi

Members of the delegation at the rally

After the press conference, members of the EU delegation attended a protest rally taking place in front of the parliament building. They addressed the rally participants with speeches.

“Revoke this law,” Michael Roth appealed to the Georgian authorities.

“Tonight we came to show solidarity. Your fight for freedom is our fight for freedom. We are here to support and assist you. Tonight, we are all Georgians,” Pavel Fischer addressed the rally participants.

“Dear friends, my president stood here in 2008 [during the Russo-Georgian War] alongside other presidents. And here we stand again. Tomorrow in the US Senate, together with other parliamentarians, we will issue a statement calling this law ‘Putin’s law.’ We must stop Putin in Ukraine and Georgia. You will be members of the European Union and NATO,” said Žygimantas Pavilionis to the rally participants.

“Thank you!” chanted the participants after his speech. The anthems of Georgia and the European Union were sung at the rally.

At the end, the organizers presented roses to the European delegates.

The chairpersons of the foreign affairs committees of EU member states’ parliaments arrived in Georgia on May 13. They wanted to meet with representatives of Georgia’s ruling circles. However, the Georgian authorities did not provide such an opportunity. Only at the office of “Georgian Dream” did they manage to meet with the head of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, Nikoloz Samkharadze.

On May 10, the speaker of the Georgian parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, announced that he would not meet with EU delegation representatives as they had chosen an inappropriate time for their visit.

EU delegates at the rally in Tbilisi

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EBRD funds largest road project in Armenia – Public Radio of Armenia  en.armradio.am