YEREVAN, May 10. /ARKA/. The closed border (between Turkey and Armenia) does not hinder the penetration of Turkish capital and goods to the Armenian market, Babken Tunyan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract party said today.

"If we speak about the risk of Turkish goods or capital 'taking over' the Armenian economy, the closed border in no way prevents this capital from "taking over" the Armenian market. Turkish goods are brought to Armenia in one way or another, and Turkish capital can come to Armenia one way or another," Tunyan said.

He said there are studies on the subject, according to which both sides would benefit from the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border.

"But the countries that benefit from the closed border would suffer losses. Now Turkish goods are imported to Armenia through third countries and consequently, they become more expensive, and the population is forced to buy them at a higher price," Tunyan said.

In December 2021, Armenia and Turkey appointed special envoys for normalization of their relations.

On March 12, 2022, Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers met on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum to discuss normalization of relations, and both sides reaffirmed their readiness to advance the process without preconditions, so that it would lead to the establishment of relations and opening of borders between the two countries.

On July 1, 2022, the envoys agreed to open the border for the citizens of the third countries visiting Armenia and Turkey respectively. An agreement was also reached to start the direct air transportation of goods between Armenia and Turkey as soon as possible.-0-