Kaan Soyak: no talk about opening of Armenian-Turkish border yet

PanARMENIAN.Net - Readiness to normalize relations with Armenia can be described as a move toward the EU membership, chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council Kaan Soyak, said in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.



"One of EU conditions is normal relations with neighbors. Although we don't think that Europe is ready to accept a 70-million Muslim country, we continue reforms," he said, adding that normalization of relations is as well important for Armenia, which participates in the ENP.



As to opening of the Armenian Turkish border, Mr Soyak said, "When the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict broke out, some Armenian and Turkish organizations requested Ankara to lift the blockade for a humanitarian corridor. "There is no talk about it yet. But I believe that it will happen sooner than we expect," he concluded.



The closed Armenian-Turkish border could be opened for humanitarian aid purpose depending on the gestures from Armenian side and the direction of the relations, Hurriyet daily reported earlier, citing diplomatic sources.



  • Full text of the interview
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