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TURKISH JOURNALISTS VISIT ARMENIA
news.az
July 6, 2011
Azerbaijan
Wed 06 July 2011 04:45 GMT | 0:45 Local Time
Armenian-Turkish relations should improve so that Azerbaijani-Armenian
relations could improve.
Seven Turkish journalists have visited Armenia within the scope of
an Armenia-Turkey journalist dialogue program, carried out by the
(slain Turkish-Armenian journalist) Hrant Dink Foundation.
Artak Davtyan, the chairman of the Science, Education, Culture,
Youth and Sports Committee of the Armenian Parliament, said Turkey
had a different, long and deep history.
"The Armenians have contributed to Turkey's becoming such a strong
country, and the future will again be ours," Davtyan said during his
meeting with Turkish journalists.
Davtyan said soccer had created a good atmosphere to normalize
relations, and he would go to Turkey to watch a match if he was
invited.
Armenian-Turkish relations should improve so that Azerbaijani-Armenian
relations could improve, Davtyan said.
The chairman said everybody should take steps, and problems should
be solved by mutual concessions.
Davtyan said Armenia was saying that Karabakh should have the right to
self-determination, there should be a common border between Armenia and
Karabakh, and security of those living in Karabakh--whether Armenian
or Azerbaijani--should be taken under guarantee.
The chairman said if Turkish-Armenian relations improved, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev's stance would change, and Turkey should make
such a pressure that war possibility would fade.
The head of Turkey Projects of Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia was another Armenian executive Turkish journalist met
in Yerevan.
Arsen Ghazaryan said Turkey's exports to Armenia were around 300m USD,
but Turkey was only importing goods worth 160,000 USD from Armenia,
which he defined as an unbalanced trade.
Ghazaryan said there were cooperation opportunities between Turkey
and Armenia particularly in tourism, agriculture, transportation,
informatics and telecommunication, textile, construction materials
and jewelry.
The chairman said two countries could particularly cooperate in silver
and diamond works, and defined closed border crossing and lack of
diplomatic relations as the biggest obstacle before trade.
Ghazaryan said the association was planning to bring around 30 Turks
to Armenia for a conference next month, and they were thinking of
establishing Turkey-Armenia Tour Operators Association within a
few months.
Moreover, Turkish journalist had a meeting with Yerevan Press Club's
President Boris Navasardian. Having his roots in the eastern Turkish
province of Igdir, Navasardian said if Armenian-Turkish relations
had progressed, all climate would have been changed.
Navasardian also said there should be a model for a solution.
Politicians, state institutions, international organizations,
think-tank and NGO representatives briefed Turkish journalists
on Armenia's economic and political situation and Turkish-Armenian
relations within the scope of the program, supported by Heinrich Boll
Stiftung Turkey Association.
The common view of all people Turkish journalists met is that opening
Turkish-Armenian border will have a positive contribution on bilateral
relations, boost cooperation and tourism.
TurkishNY
news.az
July 6, 2011
Azerbaijan
Wed 06 July 2011 04:45 GMT | 0:45 Local Time
Armenian-Turkish relations should improve so that Azerbaijani-Armenian
relations could improve.
Seven Turkish journalists have visited Armenia within the scope of
an Armenia-Turkey journalist dialogue program, carried out by the
(slain Turkish-Armenian journalist) Hrant Dink Foundation.
Artak Davtyan, the chairman of the Science, Education, Culture,
Youth and Sports Committee of the Armenian Parliament, said Turkey
had a different, long and deep history.
"The Armenians have contributed to Turkey's becoming such a strong
country, and the future will again be ours," Davtyan said during his
meeting with Turkish journalists.
Davtyan said soccer had created a good atmosphere to normalize
relations, and he would go to Turkey to watch a match if he was
invited.
Armenian-Turkish relations should improve so that Azerbaijani-Armenian
relations could improve, Davtyan said.
The chairman said everybody should take steps, and problems should
be solved by mutual concessions.
Davtyan said Armenia was saying that Karabakh should have the right to
self-determination, there should be a common border between Armenia and
Karabakh, and security of those living in Karabakh--whether Armenian
or Azerbaijani--should be taken under guarantee.
The chairman said if Turkish-Armenian relations improved, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev's stance would change, and Turkey should make
such a pressure that war possibility would fade.
The head of Turkey Projects of Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia was another Armenian executive Turkish journalist met
in Yerevan.
Arsen Ghazaryan said Turkey's exports to Armenia were around 300m USD,
but Turkey was only importing goods worth 160,000 USD from Armenia,
which he defined as an unbalanced trade.
Ghazaryan said there were cooperation opportunities between Turkey
and Armenia particularly in tourism, agriculture, transportation,
informatics and telecommunication, textile, construction materials
and jewelry.
The chairman said two countries could particularly cooperate in silver
and diamond works, and defined closed border crossing and lack of
diplomatic relations as the biggest obstacle before trade.
Ghazaryan said the association was planning to bring around 30 Turks
to Armenia for a conference next month, and they were thinking of
establishing Turkey-Armenia Tour Operators Association within a
few months.
Moreover, Turkish journalist had a meeting with Yerevan Press Club's
President Boris Navasardian. Having his roots in the eastern Turkish
province of Igdir, Navasardian said if Armenian-Turkish relations
had progressed, all climate would have been changed.
Navasardian also said there should be a model for a solution.
Politicians, state institutions, international organizations,
think-tank and NGO representatives briefed Turkish journalists
on Armenia's economic and political situation and Turkish-Armenian
relations within the scope of the program, supported by Heinrich Boll
Stiftung Turkey Association.
The common view of all people Turkish journalists met is that opening
Turkish-Armenian border will have a positive contribution on bilateral
relations, boost cooperation and tourism.
TurkishNY