Armenian-Turkish border may open in early 2010October 13, 2009 - 15:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement that the Turkish parliament is an independent body and has to decide the fate of the Protocols is a kind of blackmail addressed to Armenia, according to expert Ruben Melkonyan."Turkish parliament may drag out the process of ratification of Protocols and lay down conditions," he said. Melkonyan also reminded that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told an Azeri delegation Monday that the parliament will not ratify the Protocols unless the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is resolved. "Turkey may open the border in early 2010 if the leadership takes a political decision. Otherwise the process may be protracted till the middle of the year. In this case, the border will be opened as result of international pressure, with a culmination on April 24," he said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |