US ENVOY URGES PROGRESS IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING
Arminfo
22 Apr 04
YEREVAN
"We hope that progress will be reached in lifting the blockade of the Armenian border by Turkey," US ambassador to Armenia John Ordway told a press conference today, commenting on numerous reports about the possibility of lifting the blockade in the run-up to a NATO summit in Istanbul in June.
A lot of work has to be done to prepare for the summit and for US President George Bush's visit to Turkey, Ordway said. "We have a very busy agenda to discuss with the Turkish government. Progress in the opening of the Armenian border and establishment of relations between Turkey and Armenia will be one of those issues," he said.
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Every time I hear talk of boarders being opened and establishing relations with Turkey, all I can think about is Turks coming in like the Iranian’s did and buying up land, businesses and factories, having no problem paying bribes and marrying our girls who see the economic benefit to such a relationship.
In my opinion, until Armenia is not put under control and corruption is not eradicated, no boarders of any kind should be opened, as that will only perpetuate our problems and make them more difficult to fix.
If you eradicate corruption and the law works, when you do finally open the boarders, there is a real good chance that Diaspora Armenians, who do have resources and don’t do business here because they have a real problem with expecting to have to pay bribes to do business, will finally invest in Armenia and lessen the treat we face today from Turk, Iranian and Russian “businessmen”, who now instead of taking our nation by force, are buying it up with money.
I guess it also does not add any comfort to know that the US government is pushing for the opening of the boarder.
Arminfo
22 Apr 04
YEREVAN
"We hope that progress will be reached in lifting the blockade of the Armenian border by Turkey," US ambassador to Armenia John Ordway told a press conference today, commenting on numerous reports about the possibility of lifting the blockade in the run-up to a NATO summit in Istanbul in June.
A lot of work has to be done to prepare for the summit and for US President George Bush's visit to Turkey, Ordway said. "We have a very busy agenda to discuss with the Turkish government. Progress in the opening of the Armenian border and establishment of relations between Turkey and Armenia will be one of those issues," he said.
###
Every time I hear talk of boarders being opened and establishing relations with Turkey, all I can think about is Turks coming in like the Iranian’s did and buying up land, businesses and factories, having no problem paying bribes and marrying our girls who see the economic benefit to such a relationship.
In my opinion, until Armenia is not put under control and corruption is not eradicated, no boarders of any kind should be opened, as that will only perpetuate our problems and make them more difficult to fix.
If you eradicate corruption and the law works, when you do finally open the boarders, there is a real good chance that Diaspora Armenians, who do have resources and don’t do business here because they have a real problem with expecting to have to pay bribes to do business, will finally invest in Armenia and lessen the treat we face today from Turk, Iranian and Russian “businessmen”, who now instead of taking our nation by force, are buying it up with money.
I guess it also does not add any comfort to know that the US government is pushing for the opening of the boarder.
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