OBSTACLES IN THE NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS ESSENTIAL, BUT NOT INSURMOUNTABLE

armradio.am
18.12.2007 11:19

Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ambassador Ozden Sanberk
said in an exclusive interview with Mediamax that the obstacles
in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations are "essential,
but none of those must be considered insurmountable."

1985-1987 Ambassador Ozden Sanberk was the Adviser to Turkish
Prime Minister on Foreign Political Issues. 1987-1991 he was the
Ambassador of Turkey to the European Union. 1991-1995 he worked as
Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey. 1995-2000 Ozden Sanberk served as
Turkish Ambassador to Great Britain. Until 2003 he headed the Turkish
TESEV Research Institute.

Ambassador Ozden Sanberk has been a member of the "Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation commission."

"First, there is a dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If we find
its solution, everything will go much easier. Second, there are issues
connected with territorial claims, historic campaigns, international
prejudices toward Turkey and incandescence of hatred. Third,
there is the question of psychological preparedness. We need an
ice-breaker. What we need must be of public and symbolic nature. Do
you remember the table tennis tournament between Americans and
Chinese before the two countries reconciled? If we manage to hold the
qualifiers between the football teams of Armenia and Turkey in the
framework of the World Cup, it may become a similar step. However,
we must confess that football is a passionate sport, so that this
occasion may not be that proper. But I think that sooner or later we
will find something proper," the retired Turkish diplomat said.

Why doesn’t Yerevan’s suggestion to establish diplomatic relations
without any preconditions satisfy Ankara? Ozden Sanberk said: "It’s
senseless to build a house that will be destroyed from the first blow
of wind. Diplomatic relations must be based on clear comprehension
and compromise, at least on most important issues."