CALL OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE GOVERNMENTS IN ANKARA, BAKU, TBILISI AND YEREVAN

Panorama.am
17:26 23/08/2008

A number of Civil Society Organizations from Armenia, Turkey, Georgia
and the USA have signed a statement urging to open the Turkish-Armenian
border for at least 10-15 days.

"Open up to your neighbors!"

Call of the civil society representatives upon the Governments in
Ankara, Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan.

The war in Georgia has left the countries of the South Caucasus
struggling with substantial risks and challenges. As a consequence
of the recent crisis, which further exacerbated an impasse created by
the existence of the protracted conflicts, the region is deprived of a
vital vain to transport goods through the countries of the region. That
is a matter of our strongest concern. The railroad running through
Georgia is practically useless today because of the destruction of
the bridge near Gori, whereas reconstruction is being delayed for
different reasons. This situation and its consequences threaten to
deprive people in our countries of their basic rights and endanger
their hopes for stability, security and prosperity.

This crisis should make us assess the situation realistically and
initiate a new age of cooperation. The Governments in Ankara, Baku,
Tbilisi and Yerevan have a unique chance to prove their credentials
of good neighbors willing to contribute positively to the regional
peace and stability. We request them to take a collective action and
unblock immediately railroad communication networks in the region.

We made our own calculations that we would like to share with the
public. Any train can reach from Samsun on the Black Sea coast of
Turkey to Yerevan in 34 hours, to Tbilisi in 36 hours and to Baku in 49
hours. From Mersin, which is on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, it
will take 37, 39 and 52 hours respectively. This simple. The railroad
can become functional in few hours, once a political decision is made.

Thus, we urge to open the Turkish-Armenian border at least for 10-15
days to address the urgency in the Caucasus.

For years we have been engaged in Track Two Diplomacy projects and have
been able to build excellent working relations with our colleagues
across those borders. Having enjoyed the positive experience of
cooperation, we would like to take this opportunity to call upon the
Governments in Ankara, Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan to reconsider their
positions on that matter. We urge our leaders to demonstrate their
statecraft in these times of turbulence and uncertainty and prevent
possible escalation of distrust in this region.

Signatories: Tevan Poghosyan, International Center for Human
Development, Armenia Noyan Soyak, Turkish-Armenian Business Development
Council, Turkey Natela Sakhokia, Strategic research Centre, Georgia
David L. Phillips, Columbia University, Visiting Scholar, Center for
the Study of Human Rights Co-Director, Study Group on U.S.-Russian
and Georgian Relations, the USA Dr. Murat Cagatay, GAYA Research
Institute, Turkey Artush Lazarian, Chairman, Caucasian Center for
Proposing Non-Traditional Conflict Resolution Methods, Gyumri, Armenia
Guran Abashidze, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Tbilisi,
Georgia Klara Galstyan, Director, Gyumri Development Foundation,
Armenia Levon Barseghyan, "Asparez" Journalist Club, Gyumri, Armenia
Alu Gamakharia, Caucasus Business and Development Network, Kutaisi,
Georgia Betty J. Sitka, American University, Center for Global Peace,
the USA "