BOTH ARMENIA AND TURKEY TO BENEFIT FROM NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES, FORMER PRIME MINISTER SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Aug 5, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Both Armenia and Turkey will benefit
from normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the former
Prime Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratian said at the August 5
press conference. He considered as "boyish" Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that he will go to Turkey only if the
Armenian-Turkish border is either opened or is close to being
opened. H. Bagratian expressed an opinion that S. Sargsyan must go
to Turkey without fail. "We should exercise caution in this issue.

Turkey is a more powerful state than Armenia in terms of its territory,
population and resources," he pointed out.

The Chairman of the United Labor Party (ULP) Gurgen Arsenian said
that considerable progress has been made in the relations between
Armenia and Turkey. According to him, the normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations proceeds from the interests of Armenia and
its citizens. At the same time G. Arsenian noted that the society is
not prepared yet for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations
as the "nationalistic mentality" still prevails in society.

In the opinion of both speakers, the Armenian economy will definitely
benefit from the bilateral relations’ normalization as our economic
entities will get a new market with a population of about 80
million. According to H.

Bagratian, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will eliminate
somewhat the monopoly market in Armenia.