TURKISH EXPERT: "I DO NOT BELIEVE ABDULLAH GUL’S VISIT TO YEREVAN WILL PRODUCE RESULTS"

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Istanbul. Mayis Alizadeh – APA. "President Abdullah Gul’s visit to
Yerevan aims at normalizing relations with this country and involving
Armenia in Caucasus Stability Pact," expert on international affairs
Gamze Kona told APA’s Turkey bureau. She said it was very hard to
reach agreement with Armenia on this issue.

"It is very difficult to reach an understanding with a nationalist
and hostile country like Armenia. Besides, work of this mechanism
will be impossible while Armenia and Russia are reviewed as part of
the Caucasus Stability Pact. Gul’s visit to Armenia may be considered
a goodwill beginning, but such acts have never produced results. I
think the president’s act will produce no results, either," she said.

Gamze Kona said Turkey took this step on the insistence of the US.

"It is not important who initiated this visit, it is important
whether the visit will produce any results. I think there will be
no results. I do not think healthy relations can be established
with Armenia, which has laid claims to Turkish territory, considers
Agri dagh a sacred place and has occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani
territories. Bilateral relations develop more in the regions between
the countries having no historical enmity. Armenia should first of all
recognize Kars contract, then we can have discussions with them. I do
not believe that Yerevan will cease occupation of Azerbaijani lands
soon. Armenia strengthens its aggressive position day-by-day with
support of Moscow, Paris and Washington.