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TURKEY TO OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER
Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
July 15 2010
SC
For the first time Turkey will participate in a NATO exercise in
Armenia this September and because of this reason it may reopen its
border with Armenia, but only for special purposes.
NATO will hold a military drill in Armenia between September 11 and
17. In a story published originally by Turkish language Radical and d
by Hurryiet the author quotes anonymous diplomatic sources concluding
that the border between Turkey and Armenia will be opened on this
occasion to bring in machines for the drill.
However, the newspaper continues, this will not be an official
opening. It does not say the border will close again after the drill,
but says the border will serve humanitarian purposes and will operate
under special arrangement.
Earlier this month the the governor of Kars was asked by the higher
central authorities about how long it would have taken should the
border open. The answer was one month. This request of information
created "public excitement in Kars," Radical writes, pointing that
the border opening is equally needed for the regions of the eastern
Turkey to boost their economy and trade with Armenia and improve
living conditions in Eastern provinces of Turkey.
"Although the Turkish-Armenian border is not open yet due to
serious political problems, Turkey will allow preparations for such
a humanitarian assistance drill when requested," Radical writes and
concludes that this joint drill will help to mend ties between Armenia
and Turkey.
Turkey has unilaterally closed its border with Armenia, blockading
the country, because of its support to Azerbaijan. The irony is that
Turkey requests Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza while blockading
Armenia itself.
In 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed two protocols aimed at normalizing
relations and opening the border. However, there was not enough
political will in Turkey to realize the project by ratifying those
protocols in parliaments. Turkey conditioned normalization with
Armenia to latter's relations with Azerbaijan. Armenia says the
protocols have no relations to a third party.
Now the process is in a deadlock. Observers hope the September events
and the opening of the border for a humanitarian purpose may help to
move the process forward and mend ties between Turkey and Armenia.
From: A. Papazian
Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
July 15 2010
SC
For the first time Turkey will participate in a NATO exercise in
Armenia this September and because of this reason it may reopen its
border with Armenia, but only for special purposes.
NATO will hold a military drill in Armenia between September 11 and
17. In a story published originally by Turkish language Radical and d
by Hurryiet the author quotes anonymous diplomatic sources concluding
that the border between Turkey and Armenia will be opened on this
occasion to bring in machines for the drill.
However, the newspaper continues, this will not be an official
opening. It does not say the border will close again after the drill,
but says the border will serve humanitarian purposes and will operate
under special arrangement.
Earlier this month the the governor of Kars was asked by the higher
central authorities about how long it would have taken should the
border open. The answer was one month. This request of information
created "public excitement in Kars," Radical writes, pointing that
the border opening is equally needed for the regions of the eastern
Turkey to boost their economy and trade with Armenia and improve
living conditions in Eastern provinces of Turkey.
"Although the Turkish-Armenian border is not open yet due to
serious political problems, Turkey will allow preparations for such
a humanitarian assistance drill when requested," Radical writes and
concludes that this joint drill will help to mend ties between Armenia
and Turkey.
Turkey has unilaterally closed its border with Armenia, blockading
the country, because of its support to Azerbaijan. The irony is that
Turkey requests Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza while blockading
Armenia itself.
In 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed two protocols aimed at normalizing
relations and opening the border. However, there was not enough
political will in Turkey to realize the project by ratifying those
protocols in parliaments. Turkey conditioned normalization with
Armenia to latter's relations with Azerbaijan. Armenia says the
protocols have no relations to a third party.
Now the process is in a deadlock. Observers hope the September events
and the opening of the border for a humanitarian purpose may help to
move the process forward and mend ties between Turkey and Armenia.
From: A. Papazian