NATO representative defends the opening of Turkish-Armenian border

YEREVAN, November 7, /ARKA/. A senior NATO representative said today
in Yerevan that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will have a
positive impact on the economic situation in Armenia not only in terms
of bilateral trade but also in terms of new markets for Armenia to
export its goods and services.

Speaking at a news conference Robert Simmons, a special representative
of NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
said despite the closed border there is nevertheless a very active
Armenian-Turkish trade.

`If Armenia and Turkey normalize their relations not only their
bilateral trade will surge but Armenia will have more opportunities to
sell its goods and services beyond Turkey,’ he said.

According to official figures of Armenia’s National Statistical
Service, Armenian-Turkish trade slashed by 34.7% in January-September
2009 to $120.7 million.

On October 10 Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers signed in Zurich,
Switzerland, two protocols on the establishment of diplomatic
relations and development of bilateral ties, which need to be ratified
by both countries parliaments.

The two neighbouring countries have no diplomatic ties, the border was
closed by Turkey in 1993 and there is a history of animosity that
stems from the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman
Empire. -0-