“It is too bad that Armenian political figures based their statements on the Armenian-Turkish relations on the claims made by the Turkish and Azerbaijani Establishments rather than on official Yerevan’s assurances. Bitter experience shows most of the claims, to put it mildly, do not correspond to the facts,” RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated in Parliament.

He called on Armenian political and public figures to base their statements on official Yerevan’s one, the more so because they have no grounds to mistrust official Yerevan. Premier Sargsyan stated once more that the Armenian Genocide is not a subject to discussions between Armenian and Turkish scientists after the protocols have been signed. He stressed that the Armenian authorities’ foreign policy strategy proves its worth and meets Armenia’s interests. The Premier said that the Armenian-Turkish protocols do not contain any preconditions. “Moreover, Turks can claim the documents contain the Armenian side’s preconditions – if the railway is reopened, it will never be closed again. Of course, the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols will give rise to certain tasks, which, however, will be possible to accomplish by combined efforts,” the Premier said.

As regards the economic effects of the border reopening, the Premier reported that the Armenian Government is now conducting surveys to elaborate programs and measures to reduce risks.

“We will do our best for the reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border to serve Armenia’s economic interests. In this context, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) provided the Government with rather interesting information, and we will certainly use it,” Premier Sargsyan said. The Government is also considering the necessity for statutory acts that would help achieve desired results. He promised that the survey results will be submitted to the public.