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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Nov 2 2014
Reopening of Turkey-Armenia border will develop each other's economies
November 02, 2014, Sunday/ 00:39:59/ OSMAN Ã`NALAN / ISTANBUL
A number of business chambers, think tanks, civil society
organizations and journalists believe that the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border will help the economic development of the
people living in Armenia and the eastern provinces of Turkey.
A group of Turkish and Armenian journalists and bloggers who travelled
across Turkey and Armenia via Georgia between Oct. 13 and 26 in order
to gain firsthand insight into their neighbors say the closed border
between Turkey and Armenia is negatively affecting relations between
the two countries, advocating the reopening of the border, which will
improve the process of normalization.
While hosting the Armenian and Turkish journalists, Fethiye Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (FTSO) President Akif Arıcan said trade is one
of the main signs of peace between countries. Speaking to the group,
Arıcan said opening the border will help the Turkish-Armenian
normalization process. Trade between Armenia and Turkey is conducted
via Georgia or Iran, Arıcan added. When asked by an Armenian
journalist about direct trade between the two countries, Arıcan said
FTSO may ask the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
(TOBB) to initiate this process with the Turkish government.
Giving a presentation on "Support for the Armenia-Turkey Normalization
Process," Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV)
Managing Director Güven Sak said there are good steps taken toward
normalization, which is very important for the economic development of
the eastern provinces of Turkey. As soon as diplomatic relations
between the two governments improve, the Caucasus region can be a good
environment for businessmen of Turkey to access China via Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Sak added.
According to the study `Armenian-Turkish Business Relations through
the Eyes of Business Opinion Leaders' in 2011, trade between the two
countries takes place through a roundabout way via Georgia and Iran.
The invoice is issued in Georgia as companies in Turkey are not
authorized to make an invoice with an Armenian address. In addition to
large-scale merchandise and products, shuttle trade is quite a visible
activity between Turkey and Armenia. There are no records in official
Turkish statistical publications regarding trade with Armenia.
According to unofficial estimates by the Turkish side, trade volume
between the two countries is $150-200 million.
According to data from the National Statistical Service of the
Republic of Armenia as of January 2011, imports from Turkey to Armenia
amounted to $98 million while exports from Armenia to Turkey amounted
to $551,000.
The most profitable import items from Turkey to Armenia in 2009 were
metals and items made of metal, various types of textile, wood and
wood items, soap, cleaning and hygienic items, lotions and other
cosmetic items, aluminum and aluminum items, electrical machinery and
appliances, recording devices and their parts, glass and glassware,
furniture and ceramics.
The most profitable import items from Armenia to Turkey were aluminum
and aluminum items, raw hide and processed leather, railroad
equipment, textile and clothing items, except machine and hand
embroidery and tapestries.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan after Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of
Azerbaijan in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2009,
the Zurich Protocols to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia
were signed but not ratified, and the border remains closed.
Opening closed Armenia-Turkey border may help stability in
conflict-prone South Caucasus
Commenting on Turkish-Armenian economic relations to Sunday's Zaman,
Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an
independent think tank in Yerevan, told Sunday's Zaman that opening
its closed border with Armenia would constitute a new strategic
opportunity for Turkey to galvanize economic activity in the
impoverished eastern regions of the country, which could play a key
role in the economic stabilization of the already restive
Kurdish-populated eastern regions, thus meeting a significant national
security imperative of combating the root causes of Kurdish separatism
and countering the appeal of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) with
economic opportunity.
Giragosian claims that the opening of the closed Armenian-Turkish
border can not only bring about a crucial breakthrough in fostering
trade links and economic relations but may also serve as an impetus to
bolster broader stability and security throughout the conflict-prone
South Caucasus.
According to a Eurasia Partnership Foundation's Caucasus Research
Resource Centers (CRRC) public survey with around 2,000 respondents in
Armenia in 2010, 45 percent of Armenians see no problem doing business
with Turks. The same survey also found that only 34 percent of
Armenians approve of friendship with Turks.
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_reopening-of-turkey-armenia-border-will-develop-each-others-economies_363261.html
Nov 2 2014
Reopening of Turkey-Armenia border will develop each other's economies
November 02, 2014, Sunday/ 00:39:59/ OSMAN Ã`NALAN / ISTANBUL
A number of business chambers, think tanks, civil society
organizations and journalists believe that the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border will help the economic development of the
people living in Armenia and the eastern provinces of Turkey.
A group of Turkish and Armenian journalists and bloggers who travelled
across Turkey and Armenia via Georgia between Oct. 13 and 26 in order
to gain firsthand insight into their neighbors say the closed border
between Turkey and Armenia is negatively affecting relations between
the two countries, advocating the reopening of the border, which will
improve the process of normalization.
While hosting the Armenian and Turkish journalists, Fethiye Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (FTSO) President Akif Arıcan said trade is one
of the main signs of peace between countries. Speaking to the group,
Arıcan said opening the border will help the Turkish-Armenian
normalization process. Trade between Armenia and Turkey is conducted
via Georgia or Iran, Arıcan added. When asked by an Armenian
journalist about direct trade between the two countries, Arıcan said
FTSO may ask the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
(TOBB) to initiate this process with the Turkish government.
Giving a presentation on "Support for the Armenia-Turkey Normalization
Process," Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV)
Managing Director Güven Sak said there are good steps taken toward
normalization, which is very important for the economic development of
the eastern provinces of Turkey. As soon as diplomatic relations
between the two governments improve, the Caucasus region can be a good
environment for businessmen of Turkey to access China via Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Sak added.
According to the study `Armenian-Turkish Business Relations through
the Eyes of Business Opinion Leaders' in 2011, trade between the two
countries takes place through a roundabout way via Georgia and Iran.
The invoice is issued in Georgia as companies in Turkey are not
authorized to make an invoice with an Armenian address. In addition to
large-scale merchandise and products, shuttle trade is quite a visible
activity between Turkey and Armenia. There are no records in official
Turkish statistical publications regarding trade with Armenia.
According to unofficial estimates by the Turkish side, trade volume
between the two countries is $150-200 million.
According to data from the National Statistical Service of the
Republic of Armenia as of January 2011, imports from Turkey to Armenia
amounted to $98 million while exports from Armenia to Turkey amounted
to $551,000.
The most profitable import items from Turkey to Armenia in 2009 were
metals and items made of metal, various types of textile, wood and
wood items, soap, cleaning and hygienic items, lotions and other
cosmetic items, aluminum and aluminum items, electrical machinery and
appliances, recording devices and their parts, glass and glassware,
furniture and ceramics.
The most profitable import items from Armenia to Turkey were aluminum
and aluminum items, raw hide and processed leather, railroad
equipment, textile and clothing items, except machine and hand
embroidery and tapestries.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan after Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of
Azerbaijan in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2009,
the Zurich Protocols to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia
were signed but not ratified, and the border remains closed.
Opening closed Armenia-Turkey border may help stability in
conflict-prone South Caucasus
Commenting on Turkish-Armenian economic relations to Sunday's Zaman,
Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an
independent think tank in Yerevan, told Sunday's Zaman that opening
its closed border with Armenia would constitute a new strategic
opportunity for Turkey to galvanize economic activity in the
impoverished eastern regions of the country, which could play a key
role in the economic stabilization of the already restive
Kurdish-populated eastern regions, thus meeting a significant national
security imperative of combating the root causes of Kurdish separatism
and countering the appeal of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) with
economic opportunity.
Giragosian claims that the opening of the closed Armenian-Turkish
border can not only bring about a crucial breakthrough in fostering
trade links and economic relations but may also serve as an impetus to
bolster broader stability and security throughout the conflict-prone
South Caucasus.
According to a Eurasia Partnership Foundation's Caucasus Research
Resource Centers (CRRC) public survey with around 2,000 respondents in
Armenia in 2010, 45 percent of Armenians see no problem doing business
with Turks. The same survey also found that only 34 percent of
Armenians approve of friendship with Turks.
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_reopening-of-turkey-armenia-border-will-develop-each-others-economies_363261.html