International Analyst Network, NY
Nov 2 2008

ARMENIA: TIME FOR DIPLOMACY

Prof.Dr. Ruben Safrastyan
02 Nov 2008

`During the Russian-Georgian counteraction the Armenian side appeared
with a new quality’, the director of the Oriental Studies Institute of
the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Turkologist Ruben
Safrastyan expressed such opinion. According to him, in the result of
it Armenia managed to strengthen its relations with Russian Federation
and to be not only the neighbor but also the relative of Georgia at
the same time. `The diplomatic approaches of the Armenia side in such
a crisis raised the reputation of our country as a state’, narrator
underlined.

As for establishing diplomatic connections in the Armenian-Turkish
relations, the Turkologist noted that serious changes after the
meeting of the two Presidents on September 6 have been done: a start
was put for dialogues and diplomatic relations between the two
sides. R. Safrastyan also noted that today Armenia and Turkey are
struggling for defending the national profits of their states and
according to him this is a normal thing.

I do not think Turkey will swiftly change its diplomatic stances. If I
give more concrete assessments, in my view Turkey will use this raffle
of establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia, to extort
concessions from Armenia, because they are sure that Armenia is
interested in establishing diplomatic relations with them.

In such circumstances lots of things will depend on our diplomacy,
whether or not they will manage to attain their end,’ Director of NAS
Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastyan believes.

`If the diplomacy formed on August of this year between the two
countries is kept, our country will not lose in the diplomatic
relations with Turkey’, concluded R. Safrastyan.

Public Radio of Armenia, 31.10.2008; Hayots Ashkhar daily, 31.10.2008.