Azerbaijan, Baku, October 28 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
Russian and Turkish business in Armenia will rather differ in origin, structure, tasks and objectives if the Armenian-Turkish border is opened. They are unlikely to create competition to each other, Russian expert on the South Caucasus, Sergey Markedonov, said.
"Russian business in Armenia is large. It is connected with power. It is not retail trade and opening of trade putlets. Thus, Turkish business can not be called a direct competition to Russian one," head of the department of international relations at the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, Markedonov, told Trend over phone from Moscow.
If relations between Turkey and Armenia improve, the Armenian market will be quite open and fully developed by Turkish business, he said. There are contacts between Turkey and Armenia today. Markedonov said that now they are held through third, fourth countries. There are even organizations specializing in this remote collaboration.
Expert said that situation with Russian business in Armenia after possible opening of Armenian-Turkish border is often discussed. But Russian business in Armenia is bigger than possible Turkish one, he said.
Any large Turkish business is likely to develop in Armenia in future. But it is still a very distant prospect, Markedonov said.
"Armenia will win in political sector rather than economic one if the border with Turkey is opened," he said.
Markedonov said that introduction of Turkish business in Armenia can create some problems because Turkish business is well organized. Armenian businessmen can face serious competition.
"Armenia has not faced economic collapse given blocked borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan for the last 18 years. So, it is not worth considering about any particular economic benefits after the border is opened," Markedonov said.
Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers signed the protocols Ankara-Yerevan in Zurich on October 10. Diplomatic relations were broken in 1993.