ARMEN GEVORGIAN: WITH RESPECT TO ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, NO ONE CAN FORCE ARMENIA TO DO ANYTHING
Noyan Tapan
Oct 16, 2009
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Deputy Prime Minister of RA Armen
Gevorgian is hopeful that the process of normalizing Armenian-Turkish
relations will finish sucessfully, with Armenia benefiting in both
the political and economic sense. He said this during an interview
with Shant television company.
He takes the view that Armenia is ready for opening the border, it
is just necessary to carry out daily work in order to successfully
complete the process. According to A. Gevorgian, the government
has long discussed and examined the possible developments, first
of all economic ones, as well as mutual effects in case of opening
the Armenian-Turkish border. If the process succeeds, there is also
a great deal to be done in terms of establishing customs and road
infrastructures and filling up the current gaps, most of all in the
legislative field. In the opinion of A. Gevorgian, the border opening
will have both positive and negative effects. Under conditions of
direct trade turnover with Turkey, Armenia should be prepared to do
its utmost within the framework of its international obligations so
that the Armenian economy could get the maximum benefits.
The deputy prime minister said that in accordance with the laws and
international trade rules, the Armenian authorities will do their best
so that the Armenian manufacturers will not suffer. In his words, a
new, 70 million-consumer market will open before the manufacturers. He
added that all Armenian importers will also benefit from the border’s
opening – thanks to the diversification of transport routes. He pointed
out Armenia’s energy sector, production of building materials and
food industry as branches with serious potential to export goods to
Turkey. A sugar plant will be put into operation in the coming months,
and Armenia will become a sugar producing country. A.
Gevorgian did not share the opinion that Turkey is an open economy,
while Armenia has an economy with monopolies. According to him,
Armenia is a member of the World Trade Organizations and follows the
same rules as Turkey.
Discussing the problem’s political aspect, Armen Gevorgian expressed
conviction that with respect to its relations with Turkey, no one
can force Armenia to do anything. "Others can help, assist it, mostly
morally, but not compel it; I think Armenia should also dictate in this
game," he noted. As regards the fears that Turkey may interfere in the
Karabakh process, he said: "I don’t think that irrelevent pressure will
be put on the Armenian side concerning the Karabakh problem, because
everybody involved in the process realizes that pressure is not the
right method for achieving a peaceful solution to this problem".