Turkey interested in normalization of relations with ArmeniaSeptember 10, 2008 - 15:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - There was time when Armenia needed badly an open border with Turkey. Now, the latter is a more interested side, professor Ruben Safrastyan, director of the institute of oriental studies at the RA national academy of sciences, said in Yerevan today. The policy of economic pressure on Armenia is being reviewed, according to him. "The economic factor was first of all linked to Azerbaijan and Georgia because of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Kars-Tbilisi-Baku line. Georgia proved an unreliable partner while Azerbaijan is very cautious. Presently, Ankara prefers to strengthen ties with Russia and Armenia, as the RF strategic partner in the region," prof. Safrastyan said. "Given the transformed geopolitical balances in the region, Armenian diplomacy faces new challenges," he added. Ankara closed the border and severed relations with Armenia to support Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 1993. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |