TURKEY KEEPS ARMENIA’S BORDER CLOSE NOT TO TROUBLE AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.07.2007 14:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There have been no relations between Armenia and
Turkey for 16 years already. Although Turkey recognized Armenia’s
independence in 1991, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian
said in the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University.
"Turkey still imposes preconditions on Armenia. The first is the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Turkey thinks that Armenia
should yield the territories of Karabakh’s security belt to Azerbaijan.
However, Ankara forgets that Turkey is a member of the OSCE and UN and
is obliged to maintain equal relations with all states of the region
and thus promote peace and economic cooperation," Mr Kirakossian noted.
With open Armenian-Turkish border, Armenia’s economy will rapidly
develop and it will be hard for Azerbaijan to negotiate with strong
Armenia, according to him.
"The second precondition is the Armenian Genocide issue. Armenia can’t
but press for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide; it’s
a historical fact. As result, two thirds of the Armenian nation live
in Diaspora. We have numerously stated that we do not set preconditions
and are ready to sign an agreement with Turkey," he said.
Mr Kirakossian noted that during the recent years Armenia and Turkey
exercised contacts at the ministerial level. He also reminded of PM
Erdogan’s letter to RA President Robert Kocharian with proposal to
form a commission of historians for examining the fact of Genocide.
"At that time the Armenian President proposed to resolve political
issues via formation of an intergovernmental commission which
will be dealing with the whole scope of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. However, no response ahs come from Turkey yet. We have
informal contacts. There is a trade balance totaling some $100 million,
4 flights in Istanbul, bus routes," Mr Kirakossian said.
Nevertheless, closed border has a very negative impact on the
region. Armenia loses some $300-400 million annually because Turkish
goods are imported via a third state, Georgia for example.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
