YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A work entitled "The Trade and Economic Problems of Reopening the Roads between Armenia and Turkey" was presented at the ARF Kristopor Mikaelian Center on June 23. The representatives of the National Assembly factions and the economists present at the discussion considered the ARF Bureau's initiative as a praisworthy and valuable one. Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Issues, member of the Republican Party of Armenia Vardan Aivazian said that naturally, the Armenian-Turkish border will open sooner or later, and taking into account the fact that Turkey uses instruments for promotion and regulation of its economy and exports, the executive and legislative power of Armenia and its economic entities "should assume a position both in the good and bad sense in order to be competitive". According to him, when joining the World Trade Organization, the two countries assumed different obligations, including the one on customs duties: Turkey may establish a customs duty of up to 50% for some goods, whereas Armenia may establish a 15% customs duty at the maximum. In the words of the same committee's deputy chairman, member of "Prosperous Armenia" faction Vardan Bostanjian, the Armenian economy is quite vulnerable: for example, the domestic market is not protected despite the existence of the respective laws. Besides, Armenia's imports exceed more than four-fold its exports, which shows that "the country is not inclined to boost production". In the opinion of economist Andranik Tevanian, regardless of whether Armenia's legislation will be improved or not, in case of the possible opening of the border, the country's economy will be seriously jeopardized as it has a monopolistic and oligarchic nature and is based on "the persons united with the authorities".

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