“The efforts of the newly independent states to create a democratic living were not finished with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Republic of Armenia, which is a small country in between the Caspian region, which is rich with energetic resources, and Turkey, Russia, Iran, is such an example. Since independence the potential of Armenia to develop peacefully has not been used till the end. Due to the war of Karabakh Turkey closed the border with Armenia in order to support Azerbaijan, which has Turkish roots. The worst thing is that it has been 15 years that the geopolitical separation line is still an obstacle for a diplomatic and economic cooperation. The borders are closed not only for those Armenians or Turks who may wish to visit the neighboring country but also for trade, transport and flow of energetic resources from the East to the West,” said Serzh Sargsyan and added that the strategic substructures such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project ignored Armenia despite the fact that there is a railway between Armenia and Turkey, which is closed now.
“The Armenian people are not the only ones who suffer from those shortcomings and limitations. All the countries of the region and European countries are paying a huge price for this artificial limitation of trade, transportation and international cooperation. It’s time for new efforts to go out of this deadlock, which is not beneficial to anyone and many people suffer from it. As the president of Armenia I want to use this opportunity and suggest a new beginning for a dialog with the Turkish government and people in order to develop relations and open our border. I am suggesting to develop normal political and economic relations between our countries,” said Serzh Sargsyan.
“When I was elected in February my Turkish colleague was one of the presidents of other countries that congratulated me promptly on my victory. Rejep Tayib Erdoghan said that in this new period our doors are open for a new dialog. There are no real alternatives than starting normal relations between our countries. I hope that in order to have such relations our governments will be able to go through the door of this separation line. Developing normal political relations will enable us to convene a commission and discuss all the problematic issues connected with Armenia and Turkey. We can’t have tangible results without such relations. This is the only way how we can establish an effective dialog and even address the most nationalistic historical issues. On the personal level many Armenians and Turks have already found a way how to cross the border. They have the opportunity to flight to Istanbul and Antalya by direct flights. Also taxis and buses can go there through Georgia, in addition trucks are crossing a long distance to make trade or transport goods. In the same manner as the Chinese and American people were enjoying tennis while their governments were negotiating to solve the political problems, the love to football will connect the Armenian and Turkish people as well. This is the reason I initiated this invitation,” said Serzh Sargsyan. Concerning the football plays between the Armenian and Turkish national teams to take place on September 6 Serzh Sargsyan said, “I am inviting my Turkish colleague Abdullah Gull to visit Armenia and watch the play in the stadium together. It will be the new symbolic beginning of our relations. Unlike the differences we have even in conditions of close borders there are certain cultural, human and sports-related relations. For this reason I believe that the Armenian and Turkish people will appreciate this step in the same manner as opening the borders. Certainly during this period there may be political obstacles in both countries but I think that now we should have a vision and braveness of acting. Armenia and Turkey should not and cannot be enemies forever. More prosperous and beneficial future for Armenia and Turkey, Europe, Caspian region and the world, the vision of opening the historical corridor from the East to the West is a goal, which we can and should achieve. It is time to overcome the artificial barriers between us and work for a brighter future,” said Serzh Sargsyan.