a refinery construction is a pretty silly and very expensive undertaking!..especially, in the world that is aiming to be 'green'...it is just another attempt to further destroy natural environment and beauty of armenia...that's a horrible project for armenia!!!...regualar armenians will gain close to nothing!

I agree with you Armen. A perfect example is Georgia. What have they achieved? The loss of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Armenia should hold on to its position.

They are rich enough so I think they are also taking into account the interests of the Armenian people. I think the biggest threat to Armenians at the moment is their own government not Turkey or Azerbaijan. Look at how many Armenians live and work in Turkey. They earn their money there and send it back to Armenia.

&Gor Your comments are very harmful. Nations/countries have no friends but national interests. Iran is well aware of this… Through our history so called Christian Russia (speaking of the Russian governments) has been the most unreliable “friend” and partner for Armenian people! If 10 years a go the presences of Russian troops in Armenian were in the interest of Armenian, today, the presences of this troops becoming more and more like a “Trojan horse”(there are many signs for this assumption, which are being ignored by our officials!)

Armenia is right to trust and partner with Iran. Armenia and Iran are culturally very close. The culture and traditions are very close and it goes way back before Islam. Islam came after. Iran has protected the Armenians and has even recognized the genocide. We shouldn’t care what the West and Israel think of Iran. Let me remind that the West has consistently exploited and intervened in Iran (especially UK and US), that the West supplied chemical weapons to Iraq to kill Iranians etc… Has Iran ever harmed the West?????? Never. Ahmadinejad is right when he says: “we did not kill the jews. The Europeans did. So let them get a land in Europe and live there in peace”. The Jews always had a good life in Iran. The real source of instability in the middle east is not Iran or Islam. It is the neo-colonial West and Israel. The choice is obvious for Armenia: Strategically they should be very careful about the West. The West is deeply hypocritical. All the values they preach do not apply to themselves. Yes, we should have democracy in Armenia and we should develop the country according to Western values but we should not be fools. When it comes to International relations the Western powers are neo-colonial. They don’t give a shit about Armenia.

Regardless of who is Christian and who is Muslim, the fact the neighbor countries harbor goog relations is noble. And as to the trust issue, I am convinced that Russians are not more trustworthy than the Persians, luckily we have had a long history with both nations, and plenty of historical facts. The real issue here is the Trustworthiness of the Armenian government, are they in it for the benefit of Armenia, or just another trick to hang on to power?. I personally do not trust Serjik Sarkisian.

George jan, Armenians should not forget that are governments are good for mutual relation but none are reliable. Iran's approach to Armenian issues are the most moderate ones in the region and do not forget that the regime of Iran is an ideological one and as you said Islamic. Taking into account the 20 million population of Azeri Iranians (not 11 million), it becomes more clear that Iran's position is pro-Armenian rather than pro-Azerbaijani. Today, the general view of Iran's people towards the Armenian nation is with respect, this is true for even many Azeri Iranians. This is my idea, as a member of Armenian community of Iran.

George, Persians are muslim because they are forced to be so by their government. Look at the Persians outside Iran. Look at them in Armenia or in Europe. It doesn´t even cross my mind that they are Muslim when I talk to them or when I see them. They have something much bigger than Islam± their ancient and rich culture. The fact that we are in war with Azerbaijan is Russia´s fault. Russians have also supported Azeris during the war. Even now, Armenians are being killed in Russia for not being Slavic. What do you think about that? Besides, when Armenia was a great empire during the rule of Tigranes the Great, who knows what he has done to the subjected people? I think when I compare Armenians and Persians, Armenians are more Muslim and conservative in their views than Persians are. It may sound odd, but that is the truth. Persians are more open-minded and tolerant.

Armenians should not forget that Persians are Muslim, that there are 11 million Azeris who live in Iran, and that Persians have betrayed and killed our people many times through out history.

I strongly welcome Armenia's relations with Iran. Besides political and economic relations, we also have a long history together. Armenians and Iranians are both Indo - European people. Our languages are also very close to each other. For example Armenians say 'gandz' for 'treasure' and our Persian brothers say 'ganj'. Armenia has also been part of the Persian Empire for a very long time. I thank Iran and its people for their support. Hopefully the Iranian community of Armenia will grow and be as active as the Armenian community in Iran.