YEREVAN (News.am)—Armenia’s Civil Aviation Department has not received a proposal from Turkish Airlines (THY) to open an office in Yerevan, said the department’s head Artyom Movsisyan on Tuesday.
“Armenia’s Civil Aviation Department has no information about THY’s intention to open an office here,” said Movsisyan. He also stressed there is no government decision on operation of flights between Armenia and Turkey.
Movsisyan explained that if the airline company submits a proposal, his department would discuss it, but did not elaborate on his department’s conclusive posturing on such a proposal from Turkish Airlines. He merely said the department’s decision would be based on the flight plans and programs submitted.
The Istanbul-based Hurriyet Daily News reported on March 9 a proposed Turkish Airlines office opening in Yerevan, quoting its chairman Hamdi Topcu.
According to Hurriyet, Topcu met with what the paper called “representatives of the Armenian community,” while he was in Los Angeles last month to unveil the flights and the advertising campaign featuring Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
“Majority of Armenians residing in the US have come here from Armenia and want to see their homeland,” Topcu was quoted by Hurriyet as saying.
Topcu also told Hurriyet will also transport cheese to Los Angeles-Armenians and added that “We also want to employ Armenians.”
Last year, Turkish Airlines announced that it has signed a multi-million dollar contract with Bryant to be the company’s ambassador. This sparked the outrage of the Armenian-American community and prompted the Armenian Youth Federation to launch a campaign urging Bryant to donate his earnings to charity.
He should not “also stress”.
He must start by saying that “there is no government decision on operation of flights between Armenia and Turkey”.
It is time to stop the 100 years of stubbornness from both sides, reconcile and integrate to the better part of the world. Today’s Armenians and Turks should trust each other and see that there is no reason to fear getting stabbed from the back. It’s time to stop.. A lot of Turkish people are well aware of real history and commonsense together with interaction will win not government politics and isolation. Mix your communuties how it was 100 years before and even more as the more is a bit more civilized now. You will see how close our people are.