BOTH PARTIES DEMONSTRATE ASPIRATION TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA, TURKISH EXPERT THINKS

ArmInfo
2008-12-03 17:52:00

ArmInfo. ‘Both parties have been demonstrating aspiration to normalize
the relations between Turkey and Armenia’, – senior expert of the
analytical center European Stability Initiative, editor of Turkish
Policy Quarterly magazine issued in Istanbul Nigar Geksel told ArmInfo
correspondent.

She also added although there are certain difficulties on this way,
they should be overcome. Touching on the progress in the matter of
establishment the Armenian-Turkish relations the expert drew attention
at the fact that rumours were spread in Ankara about the necessity of
the strategical changing in the position of the country. ‘In Turkey
many people think that absence of the diplomatic relations with Armenia
and the fact of the border shut down are not in favour of the state. Of
course, changing of the positions of the parties is in some sense
conditioned with the August events between Russia and Georgia too,
as well as with the power changing in Armenia’, – she said.

Asked about the positive affect that has led to certain progress in
normalizing of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the expert replied, that
there are two factors – geo-political and ripening of understanding
in the Turkish and Armenian societies that they need changing. She
also added that in Turkey the liberal part of the society is
actively working in this direction. This work is coinciding with
the strategical changes in the position of official Ankara. Finally,
positive tendencies have been noticed from both sides, the expert said.