KIRO MANOYAN: YEREVAN, ANKARA CAN AGREE ON OPENING OF BORDER THIS YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2009 13:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political
Affairs Office Director Kiro Manoyan said Armenia and Turkey may sign
an agreement on opening of the common border in 2009.

"Judging by recent publications in Turkish media and statements by
Turkish officials, agreement is quite possible. Moreover, President
Abdullah Gul himself said that there are some technical issues to be
settled," Mr Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"After the Armenian-Russian clashes in August 2008, Ankara has come
to understand that it can’t show its worth in the region without
normalization of relations with Yerevan. Nevertheless, no agreement
will be signed before April 24. Ankara is awaiting U.S. President
Barack Obama’s annual statement," he said.

Mr. Manoyan said he is hopeful that Armenia will never sign any
document which questions the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

"We should also keep in mind that the Armenian economy is unable to
withstand the flow of Turkish goods yet," he said.