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ARMENIA AND TURKEY NOT ESTABLISHING, BUT LEGALIZING THEIR ECONOMIC COOPERATION: ARMENIAN EXPERT
ARKA
September 8, 2009
Yerevan
An Armenian economist said today that Armenia and Turkey are not
establishing economic cooperation, but legalizing the existing one,
that has grown substantially in the recent decade. Tatul Manaserian,
who serves as an aide to parliament speaker on economic issues,
said about 25% of Armenia's foreign trade falls on Turkey.
According to official figures of the National Statistical Service
(NSS), Armenia's trade with Turkey in Jan.-July, 2009 shrank by 28
% to $86.7 million. Armenian exports to Turkey plunged by 50.1%
year-on-year to $539,8000 (0.2% of all Armenian experts), while
imports from Turkey fell by 27.8% to $86.2 million.
According to Manaserian, Armenia is still unable to offer quality
goods at competitive prices and this is why Armenian imports from
Turkey dominate over Armenian exports. He believes that the opening
of the border, expected on both sides, will force Armenia and Turkey
to form a new relationship.
He argued that Turkey wants to open the border more than Armenia
because as a nation aspiring to join the European Union, 'Ankara
needs to show the world that it is not only a civilized country but
a country with free economy and open borders.'
He added that normalization of relations with Armenia will allow Turkey
to buy Armenia-generated electricity20and cover a huge shortage of
power in its eastern regions.
In a joint statement released on August 31 night, the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Turkey as well as Switzerland said Ankara
and Yerevan have agreed to start "internal political consultations"
on two bilateral protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations
and reopening of their border.
According to the press release, the protocols provide for a framework
for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian bilateral relations within a
reasonable timeframe. 'The political consultations will be completed
within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed
and submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on
each side.
Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely progression
of the ratification in line with their constitutional and legal
procedures,' it said.
Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for its ally, Azerbaijan,
which had a dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan.
There are several sensitive issues complicating the establishment of
normal relations between the two countries, particularly, Ankara's
blatant support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution process and Turkey's refusal to acknowledg e the mass
killings of Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire as
a genocide.
The thaw in the strained relations began in 2008 September after
Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia, at his counterpart's
invitation, to watch together with Serzh Sargsyan the 2010 World Cup
qualifying football game between the two countries' national teams.
During that visit the two presidents discussed prospects for engaging
in dialogue and normalization of relations.
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MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
From: [email protected]
Subject: Armenia and Turkey not establishing, but legalizing their economic
cooperation: Armenian expert
Armenia and Turkey not establishing, but legalizing their economic
cooperation: Armenian expert
YEREVAN, September 8, /ARKA/. An Armenian economist said today that
Armenia and Turkey are not establishing economic cooperation, but
legalizing the existing one, that has grown substantially in the recent
decade. Tatul Manaserian, who serves as an aide to parliament speaker
on economic issues, said about 25% of Armeniaâ??s foreign trade falls on
Turkey.
According to official figures of the National Statistical Service
(NSS), Armeniaâ??s trade with Turkey in Jan.-July, 2009 shrank by 28 % to
$86.7 million. Armenian exports to Turkey plunged by 50.1% year-on-year
to $539,8000 (0.2% of all Armenian experts), while imports from Turkey
fell by 27.8% to $86.2 million.
According to Manaserian, Armenia is still unable to offer quality goods
at competitive prices and this is why Armenian imports from Turkey
dominate over Armenian exports. He believes that the opening of the
border, expected on both sides, will force Armenia and Turkey to form a
new relationship.
He argued that Turkey wants to open the border more than Armenia
because as a nation aspiring to join the European Union, â??Ankara needs
to show the world that it is not only a civilized country but a country
with free economy and open borders.â??
He added that normalization of relations with Armenia will allow Turkey
to buy Armenia-generated electricity20and cover a huge shortage of power
in its eastern regions.
In a joint statement released on August 31 night, the foreign ministers
of Armenia and Turkey as well as Switzerland said Ankara and Yerevan
have agreed to start â??internal political consultationsâ?? on two
bilateral protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and
reopening of their border.
According to the press release, the protocols provide for a framework
for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian bilateral relations within a
reasonable timeframe. â??The political consultations will be completed
within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed and
submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on each
side. Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely
progression of the ratification in line with their constitutional and
legal procedures,â?? it said.
Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for its ally, Azerbaijan,
which had a dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan.
There are several sensitive issues complicating the establishment of
normal relations between the two countries, particularly, Ankaraâ??s
blatant support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution process and Turkeyâ??s refusal to acknowledg
e the mass
killings of Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire as a
genocide.
The thaw in the strained relations began in 2008 September after
Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia, at his counterpartâ??s
invitation, to watch together with Serzh Sargsyan the 2010 World Cup
qualifying football game between the two countriesâ?? national teams.
During that visit the two presidents discussed prospects for engaging
in dialogue and normalization of relations. -0-
ARKA
September 8, 2009
Yerevan
An Armenian economist said today that Armenia and Turkey are not
establishing economic cooperation, but legalizing the existing one,
that has grown substantially in the recent decade. Tatul Manaserian,
who serves as an aide to parliament speaker on economic issues,
said about 25% of Armenia's foreign trade falls on Turkey.
According to official figures of the National Statistical Service
(NSS), Armenia's trade with Turkey in Jan.-July, 2009 shrank by 28
% to $86.7 million. Armenian exports to Turkey plunged by 50.1%
year-on-year to $539,8000 (0.2% of all Armenian experts), while
imports from Turkey fell by 27.8% to $86.2 million.
According to Manaserian, Armenia is still unable to offer quality
goods at competitive prices and this is why Armenian imports from
Turkey dominate over Armenian exports. He believes that the opening
of the border, expected on both sides, will force Armenia and Turkey
to form a new relationship.
He argued that Turkey wants to open the border more than Armenia
because as a nation aspiring to join the European Union, 'Ankara
needs to show the world that it is not only a civilized country but
a country with free economy and open borders.'
He added that normalization of relations with Armenia will allow Turkey
to buy Armenia-generated electricity20and cover a huge shortage of
power in its eastern regions.
In a joint statement released on August 31 night, the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Turkey as well as Switzerland said Ankara
and Yerevan have agreed to start "internal political consultations"
on two bilateral protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations
and reopening of their border.
According to the press release, the protocols provide for a framework
for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian bilateral relations within a
reasonable timeframe. 'The political consultations will be completed
within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed
and submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on
each side.
Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely progression
of the ratification in line with their constitutional and legal
procedures,' it said.
Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for its ally, Azerbaijan,
which had a dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan.
There are several sensitive issues complicating the establishment of
normal relations between the two countries, particularly, Ankara's
blatant support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution process and Turkey's refusal to acknowledg e the mass
killings of Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire as
a genocide.
The thaw in the strained relations began in 2008 September after
Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia, at his counterpart's
invitation, to watch together with Serzh Sargsyan the 2010 World Cup
qualifying football game between the two countries' national teams.
During that visit the two presidents discussed prospects for engaging
in dialogue and normalization of relations.
Content-Type: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Description:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
From: [email protected]
Subject: Armenia and Turkey not establishing, but legalizing their economic
cooperation: Armenian expert
Armenia and Turkey not establishing, but legalizing their economic
cooperation: Armenian expert
YEREVAN, September 8, /ARKA/. An Armenian economist said today that
Armenia and Turkey are not establishing economic cooperation, but
legalizing the existing one, that has grown substantially in the recent
decade. Tatul Manaserian, who serves as an aide to parliament speaker
on economic issues, said about 25% of Armeniaâ??s foreign trade falls on
Turkey.
According to official figures of the National Statistical Service
(NSS), Armeniaâ??s trade with Turkey in Jan.-July, 2009 shrank by 28 % to
$86.7 million. Armenian exports to Turkey plunged by 50.1% year-on-year
to $539,8000 (0.2% of all Armenian experts), while imports from Turkey
fell by 27.8% to $86.2 million.
According to Manaserian, Armenia is still unable to offer quality goods
at competitive prices and this is why Armenian imports from Turkey
dominate over Armenian exports. He believes that the opening of the
border, expected on both sides, will force Armenia and Turkey to form a
new relationship.
He argued that Turkey wants to open the border more than Armenia
because as a nation aspiring to join the European Union, â??Ankara needs
to show the world that it is not only a civilized country but a country
with free economy and open borders.â??
He added that normalization of relations with Armenia will allow Turkey
to buy Armenia-generated electricity20and cover a huge shortage of power
in its eastern regions.
In a joint statement released on August 31 night, the foreign ministers
of Armenia and Turkey as well as Switzerland said Ankara and Yerevan
have agreed to start â??internal political consultationsâ?? on two
bilateral protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and
reopening of their border.
According to the press release, the protocols provide for a framework
for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian bilateral relations within a
reasonable timeframe. â??The political consultations will be completed
within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed and
submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on each
side. Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely
progression of the ratification in line with their constitutional and
legal procedures,â?? it said.
Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became
independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for its ally, Azerbaijan,
which had a dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan.
There are several sensitive issues complicating the establishment of
normal relations between the two countries, particularly, Ankaraâ??s
blatant support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution process and Turkeyâ??s refusal to acknowledg
e the mass
killings of Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire as a
genocide.
The thaw in the strained relations began in 2008 September after
Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia, at his counterpartâ??s
invitation, to watch together with Serzh Sargsyan the 2010 World Cup
qualifying football game between the two countriesâ?? national teams.
During that visit the two presidents discussed prospects for engaging
in dialogue and normalization of relations. -0-