YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: A roundtable discussion convened by the Political Dialogue and Development Center together with the US embassy in Yerevan on September 29 to explore consequences of a possible opening of the land border between Armenia and Turkey brought together local politicians and economists, whose opinions differed significantly.
A parliament member Tatul Manaserian argued in favor of using the full potential of Armenia’s relations with Georgia and Iran and only then try to extend the expected experience to its relations with Turkey.
Seyran Avagian, a presidential adviser, put the blame for the sealed border on Turkey, saying open borders would benefit both nations, as “Armenian businessmen are familiar with Turkey’s market and Turkish consumers have discovered the quality of Armenian goods.”
A senior transport and communication ministry official Vahagn Badalian voiced concern over Turkish-Georgian plans to build a railway connecting Turkish Kars with Akhalkalaki saying it would further aggravate the blockade imposed on Armenia.
According to Ashot Yeghiazarian, a senior member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, fears that the Armenian market would be flooded with cheap Turkish goods in the event of an open border must be thrown off. He added that open borders would first of all benefit underdeveloped eastern regions of Turkey, while Armenia would get a transit route across Turkey to Middle East markets.
Gagik Melikian from the ruling Republican Party said open borders would result in more exports and consequently more budget revenues.
According to official figures, Turkish-Armenian trade is estimated annually between $40 – $60 million and is mainly carried out through neighboring Georgia.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.