ECONOMIC INTERESTS CAN PROMOTE FAVORABLE MOMENT TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT

US vice-president Dick Cheney called Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul being on visit in that country to open the Turkish-Armenian border, causing concern of Azerbaijan. Judging from an article in “525” Baku newspaper, recent materials in the Turkish press actively propagating normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan in the name of economic progress also give rise to Baku concern. Thus, “Turkish Daily News” considers that “the mechanism of decisions of the two countries should not be based on interests of external forces.” As reported by “Liberty” radio station the opening of the border at Gyumri Armenian city will let increase the commodity turnover between Turkey and Armenia up to $300 million, and the opening of the Azeri one can provide for 35% reduction of transport expenses of Turkey in trade relations with Central Asia. Observers suppose that growth of economic interests in the region can form prerequisites for settlement of the Karabakh conflict. At the same time Iran and Russia state they are interested in opening the Armenian-Azeri border. As reported by “525” newspaper, last week Iranian ambassador to Russia Gulamrza Shafei called Armenia and Azerbaijan to solve the Karabakh problem, stating it would allow to normalize transport communication between Iran and Russia. Russian minister of transport Sergey Frank also agreed with his opinion.