RUSSIAN INVESTMENTS JUSTIFIED ONLY IF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPENS, SAYS SEMNEBY

Tert
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Russian began taking steps a long time ago that show it expects changes
in the situation in the Caucasus, EU Special Representative for the
South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated in his interview to Russian daily
Vremya Novostey.

In Semneby’s words, Russian investments in Armenia, such as railway
construction, will be justified for Russia only if the Armenian-Turkish
border opens.

"Russia has big interests in Armenia, including enormous economic
interests. If Russia invested funds in Armenia, has bought the energy
infrastructure and so on, then it takes an interest in the development
of Armenia’s economy. As for steady development, it is necessary to
create indispensable conditions, for which the most imporant factor
is opening the border with Turkey. The diversification of Armenia’s
economy and giving it room to develop is also in Russia’s interests,"
explained the EU Special Representative.