TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TAKE KEEN INTEREST IN ARMENIAN MINES, TRANSPORTATION

ARKA
Apr 15, 2009

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Turkish businessmen take a keen interest
in Armenian raw materials, mines and transportation, Co-Chairman of
the Armenian-Turkish Business Council Kaan Soyak said Tuesday at a
press conference in Yerevan.

Turkish entrepreneurs are particularly interested in Armenian stones,
cement, construction materials and ores, the businessman said, adding
Turkey considers Armenia a link with Russia. Soyak stressed that the
Armenian railway would open a new way for Turkey to the Middle East
and Russia.

A group of Turkish businessmen has designed a project of constructing
a supermarket and hotels in Armenia, he said, adding Turkey is eager
to implement those projects in the near future.

Soyak cited around $150mln trade turnover between Armenia and Turkey,
expressing a hope the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border would
boost bilateral ties.

No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by
official Ankara.

Official Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with
Turkey without any preconditions. But Turkey puts preconditions for
establishing bilateral relations, particularly requests Armenia to give
up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian genocide
of 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.

The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish
President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch a
World Cup qualifier between Armenian and Turkish teams.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed possible establishment of
bilateral relations.