April 2, 2009 - 19:00 AMT
Armenia and Turkey might benefit from opening of border
Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border on Apr. 16 is a possibility, Caucasus Institute Director, a politologist Alexander Iskandaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Closed border is an absurd-sounding term to be used in the 21st century. Armenia's gains from opening the border are obvious. We'll have a direct railway link with Europe that will facilitate freight transportation and reduce its costs. It will provide us with the outlet to the sea and Eastern provinces of Turkey (Western Armenia)," the Armenian politologist emphasized.

According to him, Armenian investments could help increase prosperity in those regions.

"Turkey would benefit from opening of the border for the same reasons as Armenia," Iskandaryan noted.

Wall Street Journal, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels, circulated information on possibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening and establishment of diplomatic relations on Apr. 16. Neither side provided official comments on the assertion above.