CONGRESSMAN BERMAN URGES TURKEY TO END COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE PRACTICE OF CLOSED BORDERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2008 16:09 GMT+04:00
Between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea lie the countries of the
Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Due to disputes that have
festered over the course of many years, there are enough compelling
questions involving these three countries and their neighbors to occupy
us all day long, Howard L. Berman, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign
Relations Committee said in his opening statement at "The Caucasus:
Frozen Conflicts and Closed Borders" hearing.
"During the course of this hearing I’d like to focus on the frozen
conflicts affecting economic and political integration in the region,
and how U.S.
foreign policy is responding to them.
"I’d like to start with one of the most puzzling and problematic
matters: the Turkish land blockade of Armenia, in place since
1993. It’s a punishing policy that holds the Armenian economy back
and enormously increases the cost of much of Armenia’s trade with
other nations.
"The land blockade is also, quite possibly, illegal, as it seems to
breach Turkey’s undertaking in the 1922 Treaty of Kars to keep its
border-crossings with Armenia open. And it violates the spirit of the
World Trade Organization, of which both Turkey and Armenia are members.
"It’s baffling why Ankara would want to pursue this land blockade,
which also harms the economy of eastern Turkey, and is therefore
clearly contrary to its own interests. It’s no secret that many
Turkish businessmen, especially in the east, have been lobbying for
lifting the land blockade.
"It also seems manifestly contrary to the strategic interests
of Turkey, which purports to be a solid member of the Western
alliance. Without an outlet to Turkey or Azerbaijan, Armenia is forced
to rely on its connections to two of Turkey’s historical rivals,
Russia and Iran – and given how antithetical the Iranian regime is to
the secular, modern Turkish government, it seems odd that Ankara would
want to undertake any actions that will enhance Tehran’s influence
in Yerevan.
"Furthermore, the land blockade has done absolutely nothing to
persuade Armenia to alter its policies on the Nagorno Karabakh issue –
the ostensible cause of the land blockade in the first place. Nor is
there any prospect that it will do so. Armenia has demonstrated its
resolve to support the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. Turkey is more
likely to win influence with the Armenian government if it pursues
a policy of good-neighborliness than if it slams the border closed.
"Why hasn’t the State Department – which opposes the land blockade
– spoken out more forcefully on this matter? Certainly it’s in our
interest to diminish Iran’s influence among its neighbors, not to
enhance it. Ambassador Fried, I’m hoping you’ll lay out for us the
steps our government has taken and is taking to convince our ally
Turkey to end, once and for all, this counter-productive practice of
closed borders," Congressman Berman said.