TURKISH "AKSION" PERIODICAL ENCOURAGED BY LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S RETURN TO POLITICS
By Hakob Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/03/2008

International

Some of the Turkey’ circles are encouraged by Levon Ter-Petrosian’s
return to politics. Some of the leading Turkish newspapers consider
his return to be a proper occasion most likely in the issues of
restoring the diplomatic relations with Armenia, in ceasing the
international recognition of the Armenian genocide, as well as in
the pro-Turkish-Azeri settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

By the end of the presidential elections in Armenia, the Turkish
newspapers not only accepted the victory of RA PM Serge Sarkisian,
but also expressed hope that the newly elected president will find
new approaches for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and for restoration of diplomatic relations with Turkey.

The current change of attitude toward Serge Sarkisian is conditioned by
several factor. Firstly, by the February 21 congratulatory message of
Turkish President Abdullah Gyul to newly elected RA president Serge
Sarkisian. Another important reason for the change of attitude is
Turkish PM Erdoghan’s and his party’s unfavourable attitude to the
Turkish "grey wolves" and Zionist circles who are in friendly and
close relations with Levon Ter-Petrosian and his family.

Anyway, "Aksion"Turkish weekly again touched upon the post-electoral
political developments in Armenia and came to noteworthy conclusions.

According to the weekly, Armenia was at a loss after the February
19 presidential elections. The supporters of Levon ter-Petrosian who
didn’t accept the victory of Serge Sargisan flooded the streets. The
newspaper enumerates the loses and the distractions in the streets
of Yerevan, as well as the number of wounded and dead. It also points
out the recent clashes at the Armenian-Azeri border and the deaths of
many soldiers from both sides. The weekly draws the attention to the
accusations of Serge Sarkisian’s government, according to which they
want to concentrate the attention of the society from inner issues
to the external ones.

Even though Levon Ter-Petrosian failed to win the elections, it is
expected that Sarsgian will contribute to improvement of Armenia’s
relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Hasan Kanbolat, expert at the
Eurasian strategic center, also shares this opinion, adding that
Sarsgian is more committed to reconciliation in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict than his opponents from LTP’s team.

The loser in the presidential elections Levon Ter-Petrosian also began
commenting on the recent events. In his article for "The Washington
Press" LTP conditions the tolerance of the West to the disorder in
Armenia by several reasons. According to him, the most important
is that "the leaders of Karabakh origin(Kocharian and Sarkisian)
are able to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. LTP also accuses
the international observers failing to properly carry out their duties.