While it’s clear that there those on both sides of the Turkish-Armenian border who are both in favour and against its opening, it’s far from clear when it will be opened. Hardly a week passes by when there is not speculation that the EU will make the opening of the border a condition for Turkey’s membership of the EU.

ArmeniaLiberty.org has a report about a recent roundtable discussion on the relative merits of the border opening.

However, one of the three parties represented in Armenia’s coalition cabinet, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), takes a different view, warning of a “Turkish political and economic expansion.” Ashot Yeghiazarian, a senior member of Dashnaktsutyun attending the discussion, said the Armenian market would be flooded with cheap Turkish goods in the event of an open border.

There is obviously something to be said for protecting Armenia’s small industries. But wouldn’t the benefits from tourism, and the lower cost of importing and exporting make up for this?