Armenia to benefit from opening border with Turkey: IMF exec
The opening of the Armenia-Turkey border would bring considerable
economic benefits to Armenia and its citizens, says the head of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in the country.
Mark Lewis said the initial effect of reopening the border between the two estranged countries would be a reduction in transportation costs and the cost of living in Armenia.
"Armenia presently has no access to the sea. Sealed borders greatly complicate foreign trade, increase transportation costs, undermine the country’s competitiveness and raise the cost of living for the population," Lewis said.
He noted that if the border with Turkey opens, prices for imported consumer goods will go down, which will improve living standards in Armenia.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds for decades, and the border between the two countries has been closed, since 1993, due to Armenia’s policy of occupying Azerbaijani territory and Armenian claims of World War I-era genocide in Ottoman Turkey. In a bid to end hostility, the two governments signed protocols in Zurich in October 2009 to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders. However, the documents require parliamentary ratification, and Ankara has made clear that it could normalize ties with Yerevan only after the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has been fairly settled.*
Mark Lewis said the initial effect of reopening the border between the two estranged countries would be a reduction in transportation costs and the cost of living in Armenia.
"Armenia presently has no access to the sea. Sealed borders greatly complicate foreign trade, increase transportation costs, undermine the country’s competitiveness and raise the cost of living for the population," Lewis said.
He noted that if the border with Turkey opens, prices for imported consumer goods will go down, which will improve living standards in Armenia.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds for decades, and the border between the two countries has been closed, since 1993, due to Armenia’s policy of occupying Azerbaijani territory and Armenian claims of World War I-era genocide in Ottoman Turkey. In a bid to end hostility, the two governments signed protocols in Zurich in October 2009 to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders. However, the documents require parliamentary ratification, and Ankara has made clear that it could normalize ties with Yerevan only after the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has been fairly settled.*
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