ARMENIAN PM ON OPENING OF TURKISH BORDER

The Messenger
Oct 19 2009
Georgia

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian has stated that if the
Turkish-Armenian borders are not opened Georgia would be the winner.

In an interview with a leading Armenian TV stations he stated that
trade turnover between Armenia and Turkey was several hundred million
USD and so far this trade has had to be conducted through Georgia. The
lack of direct contact between Turkey and Armenia makes this trade
profitable for Georgia.

In the modern world having closed borders is nonsense and opening the
Turkish-Armenian borders is not as dangerous as some Armenians think.

Contact with Turkey via Georgia already takes place, so there should be
no threats and no surprises involved in reestablishing direct contact,
Sarkisian said.

Conducting direct trade between the two countries would definitely
decrease the loss Armenia suffers by transporting its goods through
Georgia by at least 15%. Armenian enterprises will have new commercial
possibilities if the border opens and railway connections to the
Mediterranean Sea could essentially change the structure of Armenia’s
economy.