RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SHOULD NOT BE PRECONDITION FOR OPENING ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 16 2007
YEREVAN, April 16. /ARKA/. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide
should not be a precondition for opening the Armenian-Turkish border,
the Chairman of Christian-Democratic Union of Armenia (CDUA) Khosrov
Harutiunian told a press-conference. According to him, the genocide
problem should not impede establishment of diplomatic relations
with Turkey.
"Armenian-Turkish relations have a strategic orientation: opening the
Armenian-Turkish border not only opens up economic opportunities to us,
but creates a real chance for global integration," Harutiunian said.
According to Harutiunian, after the border is opened, Armenia
will become a renewed country and will be perceived in the world
differently.
Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by
official Ankara.
Turkey puts a number of preconditions for establishing bilateral
relations, particularly Armenia’s resignation of the policy of
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire
and concessions on Karabakh issue.
According to international experts, as a result of the Turkey’s
blockade against Armenia, the Armenian economy suffers $500 mln damage
every year.