Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Jan 12 2007

The economic and social consequences of re-opening the
Turkish-Armenian border will be considered January 13-14 in Yerevan

Yerevan, January 12 /Mediamax/. A scientific conference will take
place in Yerevan on January 13-14, during which the economic and
social consequences of re-opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will
be considered.

The conference will take place on the initiative of the Armenian
International Policy Research Group (AIPRG). As the economist of the
Group Bryan Roberts stated, the economic research of the consequences
of the Turkish-Armenian border opening consists of several stages of
activities: visiting Gyumri and holding a survey of public opinion,
preparing an economic analysis, holding a conference and publishing
materials in the magazine of the Group.

According to the U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Armenia Anthony Godfrey,
`the sides will be interested to know how much the blockade of the
border costs them’. He stressed that the conference does not have any
political aims, as the political issues should be discussed by the
Armenian and Turkish governments.

During the conference, Anthony Godfrey stated, a factual assessment
will be given to the existing situation and the potential
possibilities in case the border is opened.

Specialists from Turkey will take part in the conference.