TURKISH EXPERT: GUL DID HIS BEST TO THAW ICE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.09.2008 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey and Armenia took a step to normalize relations
after long years of dispute, a Turkish Professor said.

"Though some political parties and politicians strongly opposed
President Gul traveling to Yerevan, both the government and
the president did their best to thaw the ice between the two
countries. Gul’s visit to Armenia was met with satisfaction by
the Turkish nation. To me, this visit may be a turning point in
Turkish-Armenian relations," Ozer Sencar said.

"Our people are tired of disputes with Armenia, which are of no
benefit to Turkey. We have had an ongoing debate with Armenia for
80 years. People don’t want events dating back to the Ottoman times
to affect their lives any longer. This is why they attach such great
importance to Gul’s visit to Yerevan," he added.

Professor Eser Karakas, a columnist for the Star daily, said the
visit was a huge step toward resolution of problems between the
two neighbors.

"This is a significant step of goodwill. It would be great if both
countries reinforced this step with similar ones in the future. It may
not solve all problems between Turkey and Armenia but may at least
help Turkey open its border with its neighbor," he said, adding,
"People of the two countries do not miss an opportunity to say that
they don’t have any problems with each other. It is the states which
have problems," Today’s Zaman reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress