According to the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Armenia will soon import pearl mullet fish from Lake Van, which one Turkish businessman hopes will be a step towards opening the border.
The fish will be imported through Georgia. According to Hurriyet, this will raise the market price, since exporters will have to pay customs taxes twice.
“We would like our export to be consumed by a larger section of the society; however, due to this formality about the custom tariff it seems that the sales price of the fish in Armenia will be rather high,” said Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board member Ayhan Fidan.
“The sooner we develop the bilateral trade the sooner we can get the borders opened,” he said, adding that the border opening would be for the benefit of “the Armenian businessman and industrialist, because they will have access to a large market.”
Fidan noted that as part of the same agreement, Turkey will also export oranges to Armenia, and that “The oranges cultivated in Turkey would be launched in the Armenian market directly.”
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The pearl mullet fish, known to Armenians as Darekh, is found only in the waters of Lake Van. The fish, like salmon, swim upstream to lay eggs, where local fishermen capture them with ease. Special efforts have been made to protect pregnant fish. However, according to some experts, the penalty is weak, and thus the practice continues. Turkish authorities have repeatedly cracked down on illegal fishing activities. Back in June, local authorities confiscated 32.5 tons of illegally caught pearl mullet.
How hypocritical! Armenian will IMPORT fish from a lake that once belonged to Armenia, but was ripped from its hands by torture and murder.
Turkish government is filled with hypocrites.
I guess it’s okay for Turkey to murder everyone in Michigan and take it over, and then allow America to import cars from Detroit.
This is another example of the” battle line” that has been drawn between Turkey and the Armenians(Armenian and the diaspora). Turkey will continue to do what it can to show how “normal” our relationship can be without accepting responsibility for the murder of a nation, the theft of its property and the illegal occupation of its historic homeland.
It’s a game of will, power and politics. Look a the examples in recent months…. pseudo religious pranks, economic bait, “unconditional” protocols.
These are indeed trying political times for Armenia, but also ones of great opportunity. Turkey lost the media battle over Akhtamar and is looking silly and disunfied in the Ani incident. The good news is that. despite 95 years of corrupt denial, our cause has never been more visible on a world stage. It wasn’t that long ago that we all anticipated the one day a year, April 24, when Armenians would be visible. Today, our issues are in the public light from many dimensions. Just look at the Akhtamar situation as proof. The world is a lot more enlightened. It is due to the investment of resources and commitment of our worldwide Armenian network. Let us keep our faith.
I agree with both Stepan and **** ian ….
It is absolutely hypocrite of Turkey to import fish from the same lake that once belonged to civilized and highly educated people of Armenia… Armenians.. and now they are trying bank on the riches that were taken from the people who used to live on those lands….
Anything to gain positive light from outsiders but what they are doing is digging their hole deeper and deeper and hope that one day they all fall into that hall and stay there…
I would not touch that fish if they gave me for free… i rather eat potatoes all day long than purchase something manufactured by Turkey… sorry but i can’t eat from the hands of the bloody state that murdered my ancestors, took everything from them and now they are claiming it all for themselves.. bunch of parasites……