UNITED STATES POINT-MAN IN YEREVAN WARNS ARMENIA ABOUT DEEPENING TIES WITH IRAN

On June 15th, the Bush Administration's official representative in Armenia, Charge d'Affaires Anthony Godfrey, bluntly warned Yerevan that the United States would not kindly look on Armenia strengthening its relations with neighboring Iran, especially in the economic sphere.

It would appear that the United States forgets that it ally in the region, Turkey, continues to close its border with Armenia. Thus Iran, despite its internal political shortcomings, remains Armenia's only outlet to markets and products from abroad, aside from Georgia. Currently, Armenia's border with Georgia is still under a health watch due to the outbreak of a strain of swine flu in Georgia. All pork products from Georgia are confiscated and vehicles are sprayed down.

Getting back to Godfrey's remarks, they've stirred up some resentment here in Yerevan. And rightly so. Iran is Armenia's neighbor. Why shouldn't Armenia be on friendly terms with Tehran and explore all possibilities to circumvent its blockade by Turkey?

Furthermore, what is Washington afraid of? That Armenian specialists in the field of nuclear energy will assist Tehran in the development of atomic bomb-making capabilities? It's absurd.

It's about time that the Armenian government categorically outlines its intention to foster mutually beneficial relations with its Iranian neighbor and that such a policy in no way threatens United States interests, either real or perceived.