RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: TIME FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
30.03.2009 15:40

"The establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations is a phenomenon that
has already matured," Director of the Oriental Studies Institute
of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Turkologist Ruben
Safrastyan is confident.

What could one expect from the visit of US President Barack Obama to
Turkey in April, which should be followed by Turkish Foreign Minister
Ali Babacan’s visit to Armenia? The Turkologist said the establishment
of the Armenian-Turkish relations rather depends on Obama’s recognition
or non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

"The Turkish authorities will make the final decision on the process
of normalization of relations will Armenia at the end of April or the
beginning of May, when it becomes clear whether US President Obama
uses the term genocide or not. I think that the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has prepared several options and will apply one of
those depending on future developments," Ruben Safrastyan said.