Kurdish militant organizations will try to launch their activities in Armenia after the Armenian-Turkish border is reopened, the Orientalist, Professor Garnik Asatryan told NEWS.am. In this context, he stressed that Armenia’s national security agencies must take preventive measures. “Kurds will seek to come to Armenia, as our country borders on Turkey and is not prejudiced against them,” Asatryan said.

Talking to NEWS.am, the expert Artur Hakobyan pointed out that most of the Kurds residing in Turkey welcome the prospective reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border, as it is conducive to the creation of jobs. According to him, the eastern Turkey (western Armenia) densely populated with Kurds is an underdeveloped region. “They do not have many clinics, entertainment centers, whereas Ankara and Istanbul are too far. If the border is reopened, Kurds will go to Armenia for the services,” Hakobyan said. He pointed out that the Turkish borderline provinces of Muş and Van expect tourists from Armenia if the border is reopened.

Speaking of the lower development level in Turkey’s eastern regions as compared with western ones, the expert said: “The population is mainly engaged in stock raising and agriculture there. Sugar refineries are operating in Kars and Van. A cement plant is working in Van. But the prices are higher there than in Armenia, so we should not expect cheap meat and cement from Turkey if the border is reopened.”

T.P.