Will Turks buy Armenian homes?
Renowned Diaspora benefactor, entrepreneur Vahagn Hovnanian voices concern that after the opening of the Armenian-Turkish frontier Armenians will begin selling their homes and lands to Turks.
"I don't know how the equilibrium or the control can be kept. If they give a few pennies more, Armenians are sure to sell their houses. We were hardly able to take back our territories from Azerbaijan. I am concerned they will cede them to others. This is a serious concern for me," said Mr. Hovnanian.
"Armenia is hardly seen on the map. Though they have many lands near our border Turks are attracted by our territories as Kurds will live on their lands."
Hovnanian's concern can only be healed after making serious legislative amendments otherwise Turks can buy houses in Armenia in the same way as American, Chinese and other nationalities do. Why not?
A1+ observed that some 40 thousand Armenians are working in Turkey now. This allows Erdoğan to threaten them by exiling from the country.
"One should work honestly wherever one is. Bravo to all people who earn their living by the sweat of their brow and send money to their families. We must kiss their foreheads. No matter where one is - in Turkey, Moscow, USA or somewhere else, he must earn his living by his sweat," noted the noted entrepreneur.
Vahagn Hovnanian agrees to the frontier opening without any preconditions. At the same time, he reminds that recently Turkey has started setting prerequisites. He fears that Armenia's economy cannot resist the pressure of the Turkish market.
"The law must be the same for everyone. Everyone must be given equal footing," announced Mr. Hovnanian meaning oligarchs enjoying monopoly and different privileges.
With regard to the global economic crisis Mr. Hovnanian said "things will continue to worsen for a little while, and then the situation will begin to better."
50 years ago Hovnanian set up his own business-construction and has been engaged in it ever since. The businessman has come across an economic crisis for 12 times but this one is the toughest, he says.
After the rapid depreciation of the Armenian dram, Hovnanian's business sustained a loss of 23-24 percent.
