SEDAT LACINER: TURKEY READY TO COOPERATE ON EVERY ISSUE WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.08.2008 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It was a wish for the Turkish statesmen that at least
a small portion of the line pass through Armenia because Armenia has
so many advantages about both energy and transportation projects,
Sedat Laciner, Director of USAK (International Strategic Research
Organization), writes in his "Railroads and Pipelines Integrate the
Caucasus" article published in Turkish Weekly.

The article says in part,

"However, obstinacy of the country caused her to be by-passed from the
project. Yerevan tried to block the projects that she is not included
but failed. Armenia and Armenian Diaspora spent a great deal of effort
in order to create difficulties for the railroad project…

Russia made Armenia economically dependent to her with loans until
now. Russia for example has the monopoly of energy supplies in
Armenia. In other words, Armenia pays high costs for not cooperating
with Turkey but only Russia…

Yerevan does not recognize national borders of Turkey and tries to
harm Turkey’s interests around the world. As a consequence of these
problems, Armenia’s border with Turkey is closed and of course the
one with Azerbaijan.

However, if only Armenia could withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani
territory, recognize Turkish borders and stop using genocide claims as
a weapon against Turkey and Turkish people, there would be no reason
to exclude Armenia from the regional integration.

There is not a solid hatred among Turkish people against
Armenia. Turkey is ready to speak any issue. Turkey is ready to
cooperate on every issue with Armenia. However, if one wants to
cooperate with his/her neighbor, he/she should show respect to the
neighbor’s home."