YEREVAN: The border between Turkey and Armenia has been shut for 14 years because of a dispute rooted in the centuries-old suspicions between Muslims and Christians in this remote part of the world.

But the business communities in both countries pay heed to a different imperative – making money – and they are telling their political leaders to put the past behind them.

“I want the borders opened,” Turkish businessman Kaan Soyak told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Armenia’s capital at the weekend that brought together business leaders and officials from both countries.

“The first problem is the lack of trust. Turks don’t know Armenians and Armenians don’t know Turks because there is no connection. ... We need more dialogue, more visits.”

Turkey and Armenia share a 355-km frontier that snakes through the Caucasus mountains.

Ankara closed all border crossings and cut diplomatic ties in 1993 to protest at the seizure by Armenian forces of territory in ex-Soviet Azerbaijan, Turkey’s historical ally that at the time was fighting a war with Armenia.

Lurking in the backdrop are Armenian accusations that Turkey carried out a genocide of 1.5 million Armenians during the last days of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey denies there was a genocide, a stance that has complicated its bid to join the European Union.

These though are not the most immediate concerns for businesses struggling to operate in this isolated corner.

For Turkey, the closed border means building materials and textiles it exports to the booming Russian market have to go by road via Georgia to the north, instead of using the cheaper but now rusting railway route through Armenia.

Armenia, under virtual blockade because its border with Azerbaijan to the east is also closed, has to import goods from Turkey by air or through third countries. And Armenian exports have to go around Turkey.—Reuters