The United States, New York, Sept. 24 / Trend , K.Pashayeva/
The Protocol, signed between Turkey and Armenia under Switzerland's mediation, aims to open the borders between the countries, believes Sukru Elekdag, a former Turkish Ambassador to the United States, member of the Turkish parliament from the Republican People's Party, the Turkish portal Turkishforum reported.
"Economy of Armenia is on the verge of collapse, so the people are leaving the country. The Armenian-Turkish protocol aims to open the border between the two countries," said Elekdag.
On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations" to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported.
Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two countries' parliaments for approval, the ministry reported.
At present Turkey does not plan to open the borders with Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu said earlier.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993.
The Protocol, signed on Aug. 31 between Turkey and Armenia under Switzerland's mediation, will be discussed at the Turkish Parliament on Oct. 10-11, Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his speech at the UN General Assembly.
Armenia loses 80 percent of exports and imports due to the closure of borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan, and cannot sufficiently use of the border with Georgia, said Elekdag.
He said the fact that Armenia sees Turkey as a "path to the air," gives a real advantage to the official Ankara.
"Despite the advantage, Ankara uses it insufficiently. Ankara has missed this opportunity," he said.
Armenia will not give up its claims to recognition of the so-called "genocide" in the world, says Elekdag.