TURKEY "REMOVED THE BRACKETS" AT ISTANBUL CONFERENCE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 26-27 Istanbul hosted a conference
on Armenian-Turkish relations on the initiative of SETA Research
Center. As conference participant, turkologist Artak Shakaryan reported
to PanARMENIAN.Net, the conference was conducted in accordance with
Chatham House principles. Conference participants were obligated to
remain silent on some issues.

"On the whole, the conference was held in good neighborly
atmosphere. As no media representatives attended the conference,
participants were free to express their thoughts and even to
"removed the brackets" in some cases," Shakaryan noted. According to
turkologist, at the conference Turkish part repeatedly emphasized the
idea that Azerbaijan and Turkey are "one nation, two states". "Turkish
participants repeatedly stated that no progress will be registered in
Armenian-Turkish relations, unless there’s any progress in NKR conflict
settlement. Armenia representatives made it clear that if Ankara keeps
setting NKR issue as a precondition, the dialogue between Armenia
and Turkey will be frustrated. This was the most critical moment in
the course of the conference," the turkologist emphasized. According
to Artak Shakaryan, the fact that SETA Center, conference organizer,
acts as a mouthpiece of Turkey, should be taken into consideration.