Alexander Iskandaryan: Angela Merkel`s visit to Armenia is not a historical event

ArmInfo. The visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Armenia was not historical at all and had no special significance, Director of the "Caucasus" Institute Alexander Iskandaryan stated at today's press conference.

The expert noted that this visit was to some extent introductory, and mostly consisted of official ceremonies that had been planned long ago by the former Armenian authorities.

Iskandaryan noted that in the case of Georgia and Azerbaijan, the purpose of Merkel's visit and relations of these countries with Germany are more understandable, than the relationship between Armenia and Germany.

According to the political scientist, it is noteworthy that among the three countries Georgia received a certain amount of money - about 200 million euros, however, on the issue of membership in NATO Georgia received wake-up call. In Azerbaijan, the sides did not come to any concrete agreement on the gas issue, and these discussions about opening a transit route for gas, according to the expert, are unreasonable, at least within the next year, and the volumes of gas are not so significant to interest Germany.

In addition, according to Iskandaryan, Merkel in Baku raised the issue of human rights, which is specific for Azerbaijan, all officials touched this issue during the visit. "Armenia, unlike Georgia, did not ask for anything radical, I think that was a very good step by the government," Iskandaryan said, stressing that Prime Minister Pashinyan received an invitation to visit Germany. "Besides, the parties discussed the issue of liberalization of the visa regime," the expert said.

The political scientist added that the Armenian society paid high attention to the visit of the Chancellor.  "The previous authorities used to work in conditions of low legitimacy, and now, everything has changed dramatically, the current government enjoys high legitimacy.  Merkel's visit to Georgia again went well, with Caucasian hospitality, while in case of Azerbaijan we have only information provided by the presidential press service. In Armenia, the visit was held in the spirit of the ideas of the new government, " the political scientist underlined.

Iskandaryan also noted that having a high rating, it was necessary to take steps that where not made when the rating was low. "Now it turns out that Merkel walked on the Northern Avenue, ate a watermelon, but this is not a historical event, and not an achievement," the expert concluded.