ACCORDING TO ANDRANIK TEVANIAN, PROCESS OF OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER WILL REACH A DEADLOCK

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The process of opening of
Armenian-Turkish border will reach a deadlock as the Nagorno Karabakh
problem is first of all discussed in connection with opening of
the borders.

Economist Andranik Tevanian expressed such an opinion in his interview
to Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his words, though he is for opening
the borders, he is against "those open borders" if it is at the price
of ceding Nagorno Karabakh.

According to A. Tevanian’s estimation, at the moment the issue of
opening the border is of third-rate importance, while Armenia has
declared that its first and foremost task is to have an open border,
which Turks estimate as a sign of weakness and try "to solve the
Nagorno Karabakh problem with a total package."

Commenting RA Foreign Minister’s statement that conditioning the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations by steps of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement is excluded, A. Tevanian mentioned that the
authorities also have understood that it is dangerous. "For me, it
is important what Turkey declares as it is the Turks and not us who
will open the border. And if it is them who will open the border, they
dictate preconditions. It is a pity that RA President Serzh Sargsyan
at the initial stage of "football diplomacy" by mistake asked Abdullah
Gul to assist them in the issue of Karabakh. Now they have felt their
mistake and try to draw back, and resources are needed for that,
which they lack," A. Tevanian said.

According to the economist, fomerly Turkey in no way was able to
intervene in the Nagorno Karabakh problem and was suspending the
process of Genocide recognition in the whole world, while today
they have got free of that problem as the whole political sphere
of Armenia, from the opposition up to the authorities, is for quick
opening of the borders. "S. Sargsyan at least formally states that
the Armenian-Turkish relations are separated from the relations with
Karabakh, but Armenian National Congress leader Levon Ter-Petrosian
says that they are interrelated and sees positive elements in it,"
A. Tevanian said.

According to his supposition, before signing of Armenian-Turkish
protocols it is very possible that Armenia and Azerbaijan will sign
some document connected with Karabakh, which can resemble an agreement
over principles.

"Maybe S. Sargsyan manages to avoid it, maybe not but pressures will
be great in the respect that they will try in any way possible to link
"the Armenian-Turkish" with Karabakh," A. Tevanian emphasized.

As to activization of Armenia’s economy by opening the border,
the economist does not consider realistic to speak about it. In his
opinion, it will have the same result as Armenian-Persian border’s
being open, that is, "neither bad nor good." "However I consider a
myth the opinion that our economy will prosper," A. Tevanian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress