Rupen Janbazian
Nearly 200 participants filled an auditorium at the Faculty of
Political Science at Ankara University from Nov. 22-23, for a two-day
conference entitled, “The Sealed Gate: Prospects of the Turkey-Armenia
Border.” Organized by the Hrant Dink Foundation, the conference aimed to
address the policy of closed borders and its political, economic,
social, environmental, humanitarian, and regional aspects, along with
prospects for peace-building in the Caucasus.
Opening remarks were made on behalf of the foundation by Rakel Dink,
wife of the late Hrank Dink, and Cengiz Aktar, who for the first time
announced the formation of an Armenian Research Center that will be
launched in the coming months by the Hrant Dink Foundation. Dr. Onur
Ozsoy, chair of the department of economics, welcomed participants on
behalf of Ankara University, and reiterated his belief that the border
between Turkey and Armenia should eventually be opened in order to
ensure peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.
