GAGIK MINASIAN SAYS ARMENIA WILL BE ABLE TO DEFEND ITS ECONOMIC INTERESTS ONCE TURKEY OPENS BORDER

ARKA
Sep 30, 2009

YEREVAN, September 30, /ARKA/. Chairman of the Armenian parliament
committee on financial and crediting affairs Gagik Minasian downplayed
today speculations that the open border with Turkey would strangle
Armenia’s economy.

Speaking at a news conference, he said the economic aspect of the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border for a country of Armenia’s size
and economic potential that will have to build its economic relations
with a much stronger country is extremely important. Despite that,
he argued, Armenia will be able to defend its economic interests once
Turkey lifts the seal off the border.

According to him, the problems that Armenia will face when the border
opens will not be different from those which other countries have in
their economic relations. He said there are internationally created
mechanisms that help solve such problems.

Gagik Minasian said Armenia has passed a set of laws and sub-laws,
particularly, a law regulating its domestic market, the anti-trust
law and some others which can be applied effectively to protect its
economic interests.

In comments on speculations that Turkey may hamper import of Armenian
products, Gagik Miansian said Ankara applies EU standards, although it
is not an EU member and if it creates obstacles to Armenian products
imports, they can be sold in Europe. He added that the open border
is important in terms of alternative transport routes for Armenian
produces.

A joint statement issued late on August 31 by Turkey and Armenia,
together with mediators from Switzerland, said Ankara and Yerevan
will conduct six weeks of diplomatic consultations before signing
two protocols that establish formal diplomatic ties and help develop
bilateral relations.

The two neighbouring countries have no diplomatic ties, the border
is closed and there is a history of animosity that stems from the
mass killing of Armenians in 1915 in the ottoman Empire.

The thaw in the strained relations began in 2008 September
after Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia, at his
counterpart Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to watch together the 2010
World Cup qualifying football game between the two countries’ national
teams. During that visit the two presidents discussed prospects for
engaging in dialogue and normalization of relations.