‘ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPENING, ARMENIA’S DIPLOMATIC VICTORY’: DELETROZ

Tert.am
Sept 15 2009

If the Armenian-Turkish border opens in the coming months, first and
foremost, it would be Armenia’s diplomatic victory, and secondly, from
an economic standpoint, it would change all the trading routes in the
region, stated International Crisis Group Vice-President for Europe
Alain Deletroz, in an interview with Azerbaijan news agency 1news.az.

"It is possible to create new railway lines in the region. Currently,
Armenia’s trading routes are primarily with Iran, Georgia and
Russia. But with Turkey, completely new routes will open for Armenia,
which connect with the Near East and Mediterranean Sea ports,"
added Deletroz.

In Deletroz’s words, people from the region’s countries understand
this. "Relations with Turkey is a very sensitive issue for Armenians,
due to a tragic past. Though, and Turkey, and Azerbaijan, and Georgia,
and Armenia want to live like Europeans and to one day join the
European Union."