Agence France Presse — English
September 6, 2008 Saturday 9:21 AM GMT

Armenian press cautious on Turkish president’s visit

YEREVAN, Sept 6 2008

The Armenian press took a cautious view of Turkish President Abdullah
Gul’s historic visit to Yerevan Saturday, saying no breakthrough in
healing strained ties was expected.

Under the headline "Major changes not expected," the independent Ayots
Ashkar daily quoted the director of Armenia’s genocide museum, Gaik
Demoian, as saying: "I don’t expect any major shift in
Armenian-Turkish relations. But I don’t exclude this small step will
open the road to more favourable attitudes."

Gul was expected to land in the Armenian capital at 1200 GMT and would
meet Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian before attending a World Cup
qualifier between Armenia and Turkey scheduled to begin at 1600 GMT.

The Russian-language Voice of Armenia said opinion on Gul’s visit was
divided and quoted political scientist Armen Aivazian expressing
scepticism over a possible change in Turkish attitudes.

"I am convinced that Turkey has not repented for its crimes in
1915-1923 and also continues a policy of oppressing Armenia," he said.

But the newspaper also quoted Armenian lawmaker Avet Adonts as saying
the meeting marked "the moment when Armenia and Turkey can begin
negotiating without intermediaries."

Still others wondered what all the fuss was about.

"It seems to me that the passion around this visit is exaggerated,"
wrote Aram Abramian, the editor of opposition newspaper Aravot.

"It’s only a game after all. If we win, we can all celebrate and if we
lose it won’t be the end of the world."

The two countries have no diplomatic relations and have waged a bitter
international diplomatic battle over Armenia’s attempts to have
massacres of their people under the Ottoman Empire classified as
genocide.