ARMENIAN MP SAYS LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED TO PROTECT ARMENIAN ECONOMY ONCE THE BORDER WITH TURKEY OPENS

/ARKA/
OCTOBER 22, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 22, /ARKA/. An Armenian parliament member from the
governing Republican Party said today the authorities will have to
amend a set of laws to protect Armenia’s economic interests once
Armenia and Turkey establish diplomatic relations.

Speaking at a news conference Mkrtich Minasian said changes must be
made, particularly to taxation and customs legislations to protect
Armenia’s economic interests, to regulate economic and financial
flows and resolve many other questions.

"We must defend the interest of Armenian producers, we must do
everything to preclude damages for our economy, once the border is
open’ he said, adding, however, that the availability of a third
transport route through Turkey (in addition to Iran and Georgia) is
‘extremely’ important.

"Let us imagine that the last year Georgian-Russia war lasted not 5
days but 15-20. The question that arises is how could Armenia bring in
daily thousands of tons of fuel, flour and other vital commodities,"
he said, adding that this would not have been possible through Iran.

On October 10 Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in Zurich,
Switzerland, to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their
border. The protocols need to be ratified by their parliaments. The
Armenian-Turkish border was closed by Turkey in 1993 in solidarity
with Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress