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Turkey Keeps Armenia's Border Close Not To Trouble Azerbaijan

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  • Turkey Keeps Armenia's Border Close Not To Trouble Azerbaijan

    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
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