Regional bank chief warns against involvement in politics – Armenian website
A1+ web site
6 Jun 05
The president of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, Mustafa
Gurtin, held a news conference today together with Armenian Finance
and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatryan.
The bank is in charge of implementing the financial programmes of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Eleven states are members
of the bank, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Georgia and
Turkey.
The president of the bank, Mustafa Gurtin, made an interesting
statement during the press conference: “Bringing big politics into the
banking sphere will in the end lead to a disaster, sow seeds of
dissent between the members of the bank and result in a bankruptcy.”
The chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, Tigran Sarkisyan, and
Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatryan said quite the
opposite previously.
“Boosting close economic cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and
Armenia, the bank contributes to the economic and political
integration of the countries,” Mr Sarkisyan said at the final session
of an annual meeting of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank.
For his part, Vardan Khachatryan noted that “these economic programmes
will contribute to the elimination of the atmosphere of hostility and
distrust, as the bank was created with that purpose”.
The Azerbaijani side did not take part in the meeting. The Armenian
finance minister noted that the Azerbaijani side had been informed
that their representatives’ security in Armenia was guaranteed.
The next annual meeting of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank
will take place in Azerbaijan. The Armenian finance minister will
participate in the session if the neighbouring country issues him a
visa.