Turkish businessmen take keen interest in Armenian mines, transportation
15.04.2009,
22:33
Turkish businessmen take a keen interest in Armenian raw materials, mines and transportation, Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Turkish Business Council Kaan Soyak said Tuesday at a press conference in Yerevan.
YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Turkish businessmen take a keen interest in Armenian raw materials, mines and transportation, Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Turkish Business Council Kaan Soyak said Tuesday at a press conference in Yerevan.
Turkish entrepreneurs are particularly interested in Armenian stones, cement, construction materials and ores, the businessman said, adding Turkey considers Armenia a link with Russia. Soyak stressed that the Armenian railway would open a new way for Turkey to the Middle East and Russia.
A group of Turkish businessmen has designed a project of constructing a supermarket and hotels in Armenia, he said, adding Turkey is eager to implement those projects in the near future.
Soyak cited around $150mln trade turnover between Armenia and Turkey, expressing a hope the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border would boost bilateral ties.
No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by official Ankara.
Official Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with Turkey without any preconditions. But Turkey puts preconditions for establishing bilateral relations, particularly requests Armenia to give up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian genocide of 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.
The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch a World Cup qualifier between Armenian and Turkish teams.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed possible establishment of bilateral relations. –0—
Turkish entrepreneurs are particularly interested in Armenian stones, cement, construction materials and ores, the businessman said, adding Turkey considers Armenia a link with Russia. Soyak stressed that the Armenian railway would open a new way for Turkey to the Middle East and Russia.
A group of Turkish businessmen has designed a project of constructing a supermarket and hotels in Armenia, he said, adding Turkey is eager to implement those projects in the near future.
Soyak cited around $150mln trade turnover between Armenia and Turkey, expressing a hope the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border would boost bilateral ties.
No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by official Ankara.
Official Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with Turkey without any preconditions. But Turkey puts preconditions for establishing bilateral relations, particularly requests Armenia to give up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian genocide of 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.
The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch a World Cup qualifier between Armenian and Turkish teams.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed possible establishment of bilateral relations. –0—
