RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: CHANGES WILL BE RECORDED IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS BY END OF YEAR

YEREVAN
APRIL 8, 2009
NOYAN TAPAN

Armenia is on the threshold of a historic change: changes will be
recorded in Armenian-Turkish relations by the end of the year. Richard
Giragosian, the head of the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies, expressed such an opinion at the April 8 press
conference. According to him, change of relations between Armenia and
Turkey includes opening the borders, establishment of diplomatic and
intergovernmental bilateral relations.

In R. Giragosian’s opinion, cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan
is coming to an end: the slogan "We are one nation and two countries"
is dying. "Every step Turkey takes towards Armenia moves Turkey away
from Azerbaijan," he said. According to R. Giragosian, in general it is
good for Armenia, but is dangerous if being short-term. In his words,
Azerbaijan will use that term to accumulate more military means for
a war and will try to improve its relations with Russia.

On the other hand, according to the political scientist, improval of
Russian-Turkish relations can be dangerous for Armenia, as in that
case Russia can move away from Armenia. In R. Giragosian’s opinion,
now Russia assists improval of Armenian-Turkish relations for the
purpose of blockading Georgia.