KARABAKH BUT NOT GENOCIDE KEY PROBLEM IN ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS, MARKEDONOV SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.06.2008 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In early 1990-ies Armenia was ready to normalize
relations. However, the process was uncoordinated, according to a
Russian expert.

"When the Karabakh war broke out Turkey closed the border with Armenia,
thus nullifying all possibilities of reconciliation. Fearing that
Armenian forces can enter Nakhijevan, Ankara has taken up the policy
of late President Turgut Ozal, who said that Turkey is responsible for
the Ottoman heritage," head of the interethnic relations department
at the institute of political and military analysis Sergei Markedonov
said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"True, there are politicians in Turkey who wish to normalize relations
with Armenia but the strong Azeri lobby hampers the process. I
should also mention that the key problem is Nagorno Karabakh but not
recognition of the Armenian Genocide," he said.