OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER – ONE OF CONDITIONS FOR PEACE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Pan Armenian News
07.09.2005 03:07

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European community openly urges to open the
Armenian-Turkish border, Turkish-Armenian Business Development
Council head Kaan Soyak stated, APA Azeri news agency reported. In
his words, Europeans treat the issue not like the Azeris do. “The
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be settled with the
borders closed. Azerbaijan presses upon Turkey to keep the borders
blocked. However, the review of such policy will not only alleviate
Turkey’s problems but also promote the conflict settlement supported
by the international community”, he noted. “I believe in the soonest
establishment of peace in the South Caucasus. However, the opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border and reconciliation of Azerbaijan and
Armenia is the first condition for the establishment of peace in the
South Caucasus. The Kazan meeting was very important and certainly
the determination of the status of Karabakh in the most important
task. Thus the parties should work out a formula admissible for both if
them”, Mr. Soyak added. When asked whether the Turkish entrepreneurs
could establish trade relations with the Karabakh businessmen, Kaan
Soyak stated, “There should not be any obstacles for trade. But
Nagorno Karabakh is a region not recognized by the international
community. That is why credits are not allocated and the commodities
imported are not insured, international banks do not function on the NK
territory and the investments have no international guarantees. Thus
before the determination of Karabakh’s status free trade only can
develop with the region.” In his words, if peace is established and
the borders are unblocked Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia
should first of all revive tourism. The South Caucasus is one of the
world’s richest regions from the viewpoint of tourist potential, the
Turkish businessman noted. When touching upon TABDC’s initiative on
building Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline via Armenia K. Soyak said,
“The TABDC called such oil pipeline “the peace belt”, which would unite
us for many years. All the countries of the world including Azerbaijan
recognized that the construction of the pipeline through Armenia would
be economically more beneficial, since the expenses could be cut to
20%. There are pipelines in Armenia laid during the soviet period and
they can be used at present time. As result, Turkey and Azerbaijan
can derive a greater income form these pipelines”, Kaan Soyak resumed.