Mediamax, Armenia
April 10, 2009 Friday

Armenian opposition, pro-government MPs on possible opening of Turkish
border

Yerevan, 10 April: Armenian MPs are in general for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border.

Mediamax reports that representatives of parliamentary factions said
this in Yerevan today during briefings in the National Assembly of
Armenia [parliament].

At the same time, member of the opposition Heritage party Stepan
Safaryan expressed concern in connection with the absence of principal
comments of official Yerevan concerning the expected unblocking of the
border by Turkey and the process of private Armenian-Turkish
talks. According to him, the Armenian authorities have not fully
evaluated and analysed the economic and political consequences of
border opening.

Secretary of the Heritage faction Larisa Alaverdyan stated that the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will lead to the necessity of
making strategic changes in the foreign policy of Armenia in
general. She expressed indignation concerning Azerbaijan’s pressure on
Turkey because of the possible establishment of diplomatic relations
and opening of the border with Armenia.

Leader of the [pro-government] Orinats Yerkir [Law-Governed Country]
party faction Heghine Bisharyan stated that the opening of the border
will bring more benefits than threats to the economic and national
security of Armenia. According to her, communication with Turkey will
help avoid critical situation in Armenia’s economy, as it happened in
August 2008, during events in Georgia.

Leader of the [Armenian Revolutionary Federation -] Dashnaktsutyun
party [member of the governing coalition] faction Vahan Hovhannisyan
expressed opinion that "unprecedented pressure by Azerbaijan and
realization of mass protest actions in eastern regions of Turkey
against the opening of the border may be well faked steps, aiming at
forcing Armenia to fulfil certain preconditions". According to him,
Yerevan should not yield to that pressure.

"It seems that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev does not understand
the true national interests of his country, one of which is the
peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, basing on present
realities," Vahan Hovhannisyan stated, noting that at present the
party is preparing an analytical document on the possible economic
threats to Armenia after opening the border.

Leader of the faction of the [ruling] Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) Galust Sahakyan stated that an "extremely exaggerated interest"
is demonstrated towards the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. At
that he stressed that the sides have managed to reach significant
progress, especially concerning diplomatic relations.