ARMENIA’S STANCE REMAINS UNCHANGED

PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a conference organized last week in Istanbul upon
the initiative of SETA, all raporteurs were for Armenian-Turkish
ties normalization, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan,
Director of Caucasus Institute, told a news conference. Dividing
prevalent opinions into two categories, Iskandaryan noted that some
speakers found Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenian Turkish ties
normalization simultaneous processes, while others insisted on the
two issues being interrelated.

"Conference focused on a variety of issues. Different opinions were
expressed both by Armenian and Turkish sides. Some Armenian delegation
representatives were against border opening before recognition of
Armenian Genocide. Turkish side was mainly radical and nationalistic
in its views denying real importance of any cooperation with Armenia,"
Iskandaryan said, adding that parties had also discussed normalization
of ties with Armenia.

Head of "Eurointegration" NGO Karen Bekaryan touched upon positive
consequences in terms of NKR representative Masis Mayilyan’s presence
at the event. "Turkish side was well-prepared; there were high-ranking
diplomats attending the conference. And what’s mostly important,
we saw with our eyes that Turkish society was split over the issue
of establishing ties with Armenia," he said.

Bekaryan also stressed that Armenia has no intention to change its
stance on normalization of ties with Turkey and Karabakh status. The
two process are not interrelated to each other, he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress