Open border with Turkey contains more risks than benefits for Armenia –expert
21.02.2014,
17:39
The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will hardly bring economic or political benefits to Armenia, head of Noravank think-tank in Yerevan, Gagik Harutyunyan, said today.
YEREVAN, February 21. / ARKA /. The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will hardly bring economic or political benefits to Armenia, head of Noravank think-tank in Yerevan, Gagik Harutyunyan, said today.
"When considering the probability that Turkey may open the border with Armenia we should carefully evaluate all the risks and possible benefits. Our think-tank conducted such an analysis and the findings suggest that the risks are bigger than potential economic benefits," he said.
He said according to experts, Armenia can export to Turkey some 50 types of products, while Turkey is already selling about 500 types of goods in Armenia.
As for the political benefits, Harurtunyan said Turkey and Azerbaijan will not abandon the policy of "two states, one nation" and the opening of borders will not resolve the Karabakh conflict and reduce the danger of renewed hostilities.
Relations between Armenia and Turkey remain tense because of Ankara’s biased stance on the Karabakh conflict and its painful reaction to Armenia’s efforts to obtain worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide. -0-
