home

photo-gallery

news

banks

economy

dipcourier

products

subscribe

IT IS TURKEY THAT CLOSED ITS BOUNDARY WITH ARMENIA AND JUST TURKEY MUST OPEN IT

Chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Armenian National Assembly Armen Roustamyan answers the questions of ARMINFO's correspondent.

- Mr. Roustamyan, how real is the opening of the Armenian-Turkish boundary in your opinion?

- The problem is not just in the opening of the boundary. By the way, it depends not only on us, as it is Turkey that closed the boundary and just Turkey must open it. Presenting the given issue as an opening of the boundary means narrowing the frameworks of a very serious problem, which is inadmissible. It is necessary to discuss this issue in the context of the Armenian-Turkish relations on the whole. Thus, I'd like to present the position of ARF "Dashnaktsutyun." We are of the opinion that the issue of the Armenian-Turkish relations is so complicated by its content and geopolitical important that it cannot be considered in the trade-and-economic sphere, exclusively. The issue concerns our national security, on the one hand, and the regional security and stability, on the other hand. And the security tasks are known to require exacts guarantees.

- Nevertheless, what measures should be taken to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations?

- Undoubtedly, it is necessary to make definite steps for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, but these steps should be made in conformity with the logic and guarantee of maintenance of security. The problem's facilitation is pregnant with levelling and ignoring of these guarantees, which may result in creation of a new threat to the regional peace and security. ARD "Dashnaktsutyun" is well aware of the importance of this issue and thinks that no normal relations can be established between Armenia and Turkey until the latter recognizes the Armenian Genocide and keeps to neutrality in the Karabakh issue. The initial conditions ARF "Dashnaktsutyun" speaks of are not an end in itself: we are aware enough that denying the Armenian Genocide, Turkey cannot become a reliable neighbor and partner, or at least, a civil country, while not keeping to neutrality in the Karabakh problem means prevention of the fair resolution of the Artsakh problem.

- And, if approaching the issue of opening of the Armenian-Turkish boundary from the economic point of view, what negative or positive consequences can have the boundary's opening for the economy of Armenia?

- I reiterate that the issue must be considered on the whole. If considering the issue of opening of the Armenian-Turkish boundary only in the economic aspect, the integrity of the issue will be violated. The opening of the Armenian-Turkish boundary must be considered in the aspect of the Armenian-Turkish relations, on the whole, and not only in the aspect of the trade-and-economic relations of the two countries. Maybe, there are elements of mutual advantage in the issue of opening of the Armenian-Turkish boundary, but I assure you that the opening of the boundary is, first of all, in favor of Turkey, from the economic point of view. In particular, in the aspect of economic expediency, the opening of communications and roads will be in favor of Armenia only in case if the demands of economic security be satisfied and the communications operate both in the North-South and West-East directions. Armenia must not be involved into a process, wherein the current security system will be replaced with a certain doubtful system. And, at last, no reliable regional guarantee of stability and peace is possible without taking into account the interests of Russia and Iran. Thus, I suppose that the task needs a versatile examination. At present, 3 viewpoints of establishment of the Armenian-Turkish relations have been made public, with all them should be discussed and summed up. The first is the point of view of ARF "Dashnaktsutyun": to go for establishment of relations with Turkey advancing own initial conditions. The second point of view is that of the former ruling party, the Armenian Pan-national Movement, which is diametrically opposite to ours and declares restoration of the relations without presenting our initial conditions and taking into account the national interests (APM proposed withdrawing the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide from the agenda of the Armenian -Turkish relations, which is very dangerous for our country). And the third position is the offical one: not advancing initial conditions, nevertheless, to take into account our interests, the issue of recognition of the Genocide as well as Turkey's keeping to neutrality in the Karabakh problem. The offical position and that of ARFD have contact points and they can be agreed.

20 November, 2003