TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS READY TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

PanArmenian
April 14 2009
Armenia

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Government thinks pragmatically and is
ready to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, Center for
Middle East Studies’ leading analyst, Alexander Sotnichenko told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to him, relations between Turkey
and Armenia could become similar to those between Russia and Japan.

"On the negative side we have territorial claims and no peace of treaty
signed. Still, on the positive side, there are diplomatic relations
and trade turnover. I believe this model is the most acceptable one
for Armenian-Turkish relations," he said.

The Russian expert stressed that disagreements between Armenia and
Turkey are less in number than those between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"EU would approve of Armenian – Turkish agreement. Yet, though
Turkey seeks EU membership, it will never be accepted as a part of
the Committee.

But what’s more important, the agreement will strengthen Russian
-Turkish relations and make further agreement between Russia, Turkey
and Armenia possible. Baku won’t like it, but then, we don’t seek
Baku’s approval. Erdogan’s Government is flexible and thinks in
accordance with policy realities of today’s world, whereas Baku
chooses to count on nationalists," Sotnichenko noted.

Yet, he is confident Turkey will never recognize the Armenian
Genocide. " The issue is not even discussed in negotiations. The
main focus is given to NKR conflict settlement. Moreover, I believe
that Caucasian stability platform offered by Erdogan aims to prevent
strangers, EU and USA, from interfering with regional issues. Russia
and Turkey wish to prove they’re capable of resolving all the conflicts
in Caucasus," Sotnichenko stressed.