TUSIAB says no cooperation with Armenia

TUSIAB said the news misled public and was misunderstood.

"TUSIAB condemns and is against any political, cultural social or commercial relations with aggressor-Armenia until the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is restored," the Union stated, adding there is no connection between TUSIAD and TUSIAB.

The previous news said the TUSIAD-led Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises (UBCCE) will hold its first general assembly on Nov. 27 to which executives from the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen's Association have been invited, APA reports.

The union was established with the aim of developing economic and commercial relations among neighboring Black Sea and Caspian countries.
T?S?AD President ?mer Sabanc? initiated the establishment of the union with the aim of developing economic and commercial relations among neighboring Black Sea and Caspian countries. A decision was made at preparatory meetings in May and June of this year to locate the headquarters of the 12-member UBCCE in Istanbul.

The union was formed with the participation of several T?S?AD counterparts from member countries. Armenia became a member of the union with the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen's Association.

The UBCCE general assembly will be held at Istanbul Sail Halim Pa?a Yal?s? on Nov. 27, at which Armenia will be represented by Arsen Gazeryan, head of the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen's Association and also co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Council.

TUSIAD Brussels representative, Bahad?r Kalea?as?, said the UBCCE was formed after intensive studies around the Black Sea and Caspian region. The preparatory meetings of the confederation have been completed. Armenia is a member of the union, and they have been invited, he said.

Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council deputy head Noyan Soyak said T?S?AD and the Turkish-Armenian Business Council had been exchanging views since 2000. Gazeryan served as a bridge between the business worlds of the two countries, both in his capacity as head of the Armenian association and as co-chairman of the council, he noted, adding that Gazeryan and TUSIAD were in constant contact with each other.

"Armenian businessmen are informed of every development in TUSIAD. When Sabanc? was elected president, Armenian businessmen congratulated him. We, as the council, also organize meetings where Turkish and Armenian businesspeople come together," he said.

The meeting in November aims to develop Turkey's relations with its neighbors, Soyak said.

"Armenia is invited within this context. We see this as the continuation of previous meetings. In the upcoming meeting, the launching of bilateral talks between the two countries may come up," he said.

Turkish business circles said nay commercial or economic cooperation with Armenia doesn't serve the interests of Turkey and those cooperating with Armenian businessmen are Jews and Armenians by origin.