INVITING TURKISH PRESIDENT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF RPA YOUTH WING CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 3, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Turkish President Abdullah
Gul’s visit to Armenia can contribute to restoration of
diplomatic relations between the two countries and opening of the
border. Edgar Hovhannisian, the Vice-Chairman of the youth wing
of the Republican Party of Armenia, reported at the September 3
press conference. According to him, the opening of the border is a
very important issue, as Armenia is almost in an economic blockade
because of the Georgian-Russian conflict. At the same time he said
that the issue of recognition of Armenian Genocide is not withdrawn
from the agenda.

According to Hayk Asatrian, the responsible person for the ARFD youth
structure office, Dashnaktsutiun would not invite Gul to Armenia,
as Turkey’s policy has not changed at all. Though H. Asatrian is for
opening the border, he does not consider that in that case better
relations will be established with Turkey than today we have with
Georgia. He said that Armenia has always been for it, but Turkey
has put forward preconditions in that issue. "Opening the border
at the price of Turkey’s preconditions will be a very big mistake,"
H. Asatrian said.

According to Narek Galstian, a representative of Hnchakian Party’s
Sargis Tkhruni student union, "it is strange that after all kinds
of aggressions towards Armenia the Turkish President receives
an invitation to visit the country." "This is a manifestation of
capitulation for us: we as a state and a nation after 17 years’
struggle show that we are not ready for continuing the struggle,"
N. Galstian said. According to him, Armenia’s foreign policy should
not have undergone such a radical change. N. Galstian considers that
opening the border with Turkey is indeed necessary, but "in case of
having a normal state and not a country having an oligarch economy,
a clan system."