ARMENIAN-TURKEY NORMALIZATION NOT BENEFICIAL FOR GEORGIA
Tert.am
14:35 ~U 03.02.10
Georgia is not interested in the opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border at all, Javakhq Patriotic Union president, MP Shirak Torosyan,
said today at a press conference, while commenting on Georgian Prime
Minister Nika Gilaury’s recent visit to Armenia.
"Opening of the border will mean Georgia will no longer be a state
having a monopoly on shipments and roads leading to Armenia,"
Torosyan said.
Earlier, during his visit to Armenia, Gilaury had stated that the
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will not affect shipment
tariffs.
According to Torosyan, Gilaury’s statement testifies to the fact
that he does not like the prospects of Armenia-Turkey normalization
very much.
"It is clear that as soon as the border is opened, Armenia will have
an alternative road. It will certainly cause a review of tariffs,"
he said.
Torosyan also said that no Armenian businessmen will bring their goods
via Georgia should the same high tariffs remain in practice. Instead,
he says, in that case, Armenian businessmen will use Turkey’s territory
for transporting goods.