Vartan Oskanian: we will urge Turkey to open last closed border in Europe

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia is aspired to further integration into the European structures, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said during the "Baltic to the Wider Black Sea: The New Euroatlantic Challenge?" hearing held within the framework of Brussels Forum 2007. The RA FM presented Armenia's relations with European and Euroatlantic structures as well as their role in the region. "Armenia targets at further integration into the European structures and takes into account the interests of other forces engaged in the region. A two-digit index of economic growth has been fixed in Armenia for seven years already. After the armistice sealed in 1994, Azerbaijan and its ally, Turkey, were expected Armenia to decline under the burden of poverty and economic standstill. However, contrary to their expectations, it did not happen and will never happen and I regret that these states fail to derive lessons from the situation and proceed with efforts to blockade Armenia. The result is the recent $700 million bargain for Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad bypassing Armenia. A new railroad will not force us to retreat. It will not do more harm than a closed border. However, political atmosphere will suffer and this gives a reason for regret," the Minister said.



"We do stand for operation of the existing Kars-Gyumri railroad. We will urge Turkey to open the last closed border in Europe and establish normal relations with Armenia," Vartan Oskanian said. As the GUAM's initiative on 'frozen conflicts' submitted to consideration of the UN General Assembly, the RA FM reaffirmed Armenia's stance: "Four different conflicts cannot be settled on the basis of one resolution," the RA MFA press office reports.