Armenia experiences record first half growth

[Arshak1946]

Dear Armenian Club Forum Members:
I would like to share following news from Armenia economy by written Emil Danielyan is a Yerevanbased journalist and political analyst.
He writes that first half growth according goverment statistics show that Armenia's GDP rose at a 14.8 percent rate during the first half of 2003 without opening the borders to Turkey, giving the country one of the fastest growing economies in the world. But is says also wealth is unevenly distributed , with at leat half of armenia's population still living at or below the powerty line, that why I think this good performence should be shared only Armenian people that living in the country, and continue create jobs for Armenian people, there for I strong belive borders should be remain close to Turkey , and Armenia should keep doing business with goverments that obeys human right.
My best regards to all.

[xBaron Dants]

I don't follow your line of thought. Yes, Armenia's economy is experiencing 14-15% growth, and yes, that's a good thing...Now, what does that have to do with opening borders with our neighbours? Why should we not have an easier route to Europe for our products?

Also, as Tigran explained so well, open borders would give us a certain leverage in the Artsakh issue as Turkey, seeing it has advantages doing business with Armenia, would not adopt a strong pro-Azeri stance. This is not to say that it will give us the opportunity to declare war on Azerbaidjan, as we don't want war, but it would deprive their future president, that dog Ilham Aliev, the chance to declare a war on us.

You said it yourself, the economical growth is not well distributed. The main beneficiary of it is Yerevan. Opening up the borders would first and foremost enrich Gyumri, who might finally get a chance to get its economy back up. I still remember the sudden happiness in the eyes of an elderly Gyumretsi woman when we asked her about opening up the borders. Who the hell are you, sitting comfortably miles and miles away, to deny them the chance to finally rebuild their city, without suffering its consequences? I cannot believe that as diasporans, we don't do enough to help our country, and when the opportunity arises for it to help itself, WE TELL THEM THEY SHOULDN'T!!!!

Turkey does have a lot to gain by opening up the borders with us, but they don't need it as much. The proof? We have been ready, from day 1, to open borders without prerequisites, while Turkey, depending on its mood that day, will give some speech about giving Artsakh back to the Azeris. Of course, this won't be done, but it just goes to show that right now, Turkey can afford to play these games.

[TJ]

good job baron, i couldnt have put it better.