KIRO MANOYAN: OPENING OF THE ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER INVALUABLE WITHOUT ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS
Anan Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
13.04.2009 16:33

The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is first of all a political
issue for Armenia: it should be accompanied by the establishment of
diplomatic relations, Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan told
a press conference today.

He noted that the opening of the border would be invaluable without
the establishment of relations.

"Armenia-Turkey relations will once be established, the important
thing for Armenia is not to sacrifice its interests in the talks. We
should not allow any point in the agreement that would question the
reality of the fact of the Armenian Genocide and prevent Armenia from
pursuing its objectives.

By the end of the month ARF Dashnaktstyun will present an analysis
of economic consequences of opening of the Armenian-Turkish border.

Until now the Armenian diplomacy has managed to leave the Nagorno
Karabakh issue out of the Armenian-Turkish negotiations, although
Azerbaijan is doing its best to have the Karabakh issue discussed
during the Armenia-Turkey negotiations. If Turkey yields to Azerbaijani
threats and if the talks produce no result soon, the Armenian side
will discontinue the negotiations, according to Kiro Manoyan.

Turkey entered the process, proceeding from its own inter ests,
trying to play a greater role in the region, become more influential,
which is important without relations with Armenia. Kiro Manoyan
is confident that on April 24 US President Barack Obama will, most
probably, use the word "genocide" on April 24.