Armenia and Turkey might benefit from opening of borderApril 2, 2009 - 19:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border on Apr. 16 is a possibility, Caucasus Institute Director, a politologist Alexander Iskandaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "Closed border is an absurd-sounding term to be used in the 21st century. Armenia's gains from opening the border are obvious. We'll have a direct railway link with Europe that will facilitate freight transportation and reduce its costs. It will provide us with the outlet to the sea and Eastern provinces of Turkey (Western Armenia)," the Armenian politologist emphasized. According to him, Armenian investments could help increase prosperity in those regions. "Turkey would benefit from opening of the border for the same reasons as Armenia," Iskandaryan noted. Wall Street Journal, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels, circulated information on possibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening and establishment of diplomatic relations on Apr. 16. Neither side provided official comments on the assertion above. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Politico: Belarus delivered advanced weapons to Azerbaijan in 2018-2022 Belarus delivered advanced weapons to Armenia’s enemy even though both countries were supposedly allies in a defense pact. Armenia Security Council chief to attend Ukraine peace summit Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will take part in the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. Armenian govt. approves ratification of EAEU-Iran free trade deal At a meeting on Friday, June 14, the Armenian government approved the ratification of an EAEU free trade agreement with Iran. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State to arrive in Yerevan Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Yerevan, Armenia from June 17-19 to. |