CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN INDUSTRIALISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS UNION: "ARMENIA MUST BE READY FOR SERIOUS COOPERATION FIRST WITH TURKEY AND THEN WITH AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
s/politics/49656.html
Dec 18 2008
Azerbaijan

"Serious integration is possible between the two countries in case
the Armenian-Turkish border opens", considers chairman of the Armenian
Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Arsen Kazaryan.

Speaking on the Armenian Public Television, he noted that "opening
of borders will not lead to "swallowing" of country’s economy by
Turkey and on the contrary there will be a sound competition and an
opportunity for rapid development".

He said it is necessary to involve popular diplomacy, business
diplomacy and so on.

According to him, today the Turkish market accounts for 35,000
Armenian citizens and the trade turnover between the countries reaches
$100,000,000.

"This is the most available market for Armenia in conditions of closed
borders and official embargo", noted he.

Speaking about the future relations in the region, the chairman noted
that "finally we will reach serious economic, cultural and political
cooperation between our peoples, including Azerbaijanis, Armenians,
Turks, Georgians and Kurds on the territory of historical Anatolia".

"Merely it is necessary to wait for the political thought of our
Turkish colleguas to get mature and for the established image to be
destroyed in Turkey. We, Armenians, have taken our step, proven by
the initiative of the Armenian president to invite Turkish President
Gul for a football match", said Kazaryan.

He voiced hope that "in the near future the relations between the two
countries will be solved – borders will open and Armenia must be ready
for serious cooperation and implementation of economic programs with
neighbor countries, primarily Turkey and in the future with Azerbaijan,
when relations go softer".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress