HAYKAZUN ALVRTSIAN: BY VIOLATING ARMENIANS’ NATIONAL INTERESTS WEST SEEKS TO PUSH FORWARD ITS ECONOMIC INTEREST

Noyan Tapan
17.11.2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN. Georgia is concerned with the prospect of opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border and intends to gradually change its foreign
policy. Haykazun Alvrtsian, the Head of the Center for Study of Western
Armenian Affairs, stated at a November 17 press conference. In his
words, both Georgia and Russia are currently interested in the opening
of the Verin Lars border check-point sooner than the Armenian-Turkish
border. H. Alvrtsian mentioned that Russia closing the Verin Lars
check-point after the 2008 Russian-Georgian five-day war had a goal to
press the Georgians. However, in his words, the geopolitical situation
has changed today, and not only Georgia and Armenia but also Russia
itself suffers from check-point’s being closed.

According to H. Alvrtsian, Georgia changes its attitude to
Armenia and renounces the role of a dictator understanding that
the Armenian-Georgian "expensive" road can be replaced by the
Armenian-Turkish "cheap" road. According to his observation, it is
also clear for everybody that the Armenian-Iranian road construction
project promises a great future to Armenia.

Speaking about the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border H. Alvrtsian
said that after the Russian-Georgian war the West decided to no longer
pin hopes on the Azeri and Georgian communication ways. Therefore,
according to him, the West has been working persistently to achieve
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. H. Alvrtsian stressed that
the price demanded from Armenia for the opening of the border is
making concessions in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. "By violating
Armenians’ national interests the West seeks to push forward its
economic interest," he concluded.