“What is the problem with opening the border before the elections and thereby supporting Pashinyan?”: Turkish diplomat

Is there a candidate in Armenia, other than Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who would commit to amending the Constitution? This is the question posed by Khalil Akinci, Turkish diplomat and 1st Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, commenting on the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border.

“There are aspects of the Turkish-Armenian border issue that I do not understand. I have the right to demand clarification from the authorities of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Today, Turkey has already begun direct trade with Armenia. Azerbaijan has opened transit and is supplying fuel. Armenia is receiving goods as if the borders were already open. In that case, what is the purpose of keeping the border closed?

In Armenia, amending the Constitution requires a referendum, that is a lengthy process. If the corridor begins to function before these amendments are made, will the border remain closed? If so, how would this corridor reach Turkey and the EU while bypassing that border?

Is there a candidate in Armenia, other than Pashinyan, who would commit to amending the Constitution? Given that the Azerbaijani-Armenian agreement has already been initialed, is opening the border not merely a matter of time?
If so, what is the problem with opening the border before the elections and thereby supporting Pashinyan?” he said.