ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER WON’T BE OPEN ON APR. 16

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2009 20:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Turkish border is unlikely to open
on Apr. 16, Caucasus Institute director, politologist Alexander
Iskandaryan told a news conference in Yerevan. Still, Yerevan and
Ankara might sign a memorandum on opening of borders and establishment
of diplomatic relations, Iskandaryan said.

According to Iskandaryan, there are both positive and negative
aspects to opening of borders. "There mustn’t be any closed borders
in the 21st century. Opening of borders will facilitate interaction
with European countries and enable to introduce Armenian capital in
eastern regions of Turkey. Among negative aspects is the inflow of
people from Eastern Turkey in Armenia and vice versa."

Iskandaryan also noted that numerous forces in Turkey are opposed
to opening of Armenian – Turkish border, so Azeri lobby is not the
first in the list.

"Nationalists, religious circles, ethnic Azeries are opposed to
normalization of Turkish – Armenian ties. Today Azerbaijan uses
all of its bargaining tools in dealing with Turkey," Alexander
Iskandaryan noted.