ALEXANDER ISKANDARIAN: TURKEY, ON THE ONE HAND, NEEDS TO IMPROVE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT TO DAMAGE CONTACTS WITH AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
June 3, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. An Armenian-Turkish closed conference of
political scientists and journalists dedicated to the two countries’
relations was held on between May 26 to 27 in Istanbul. Conference
participants, political scientists Alexander Iskandarian and Karen
Bekarian reported at the June 2 press conference.

A. Iskandarian, in particular, said that he cannot mention names,
as the event was closed, but he will convey the general position of
the Turks.

According to him, the Turkish political thought is divided into two
parts. A group of intellectuals consider that they should establish
relations with Armenia without preconditions and the other group is
convinced that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be solved parallel
with the normalization of relations.

In response to the question of whether Turkey is sincere in its
strivings or it is making an imitation, A. Iskandarian said that
in general politics is a succession of imitations, game, dual
standards. "As to Turkey, one the one hand, it needs to improve its
relations with Armenia and, on the other hand, the Turks will not
want to damage their relations with Azerbaijan," he said.

K. Bekarian, in his turn, said that not only the U.S., but also the
European Union is interested in establishment of Armenian-Turkish
contacts, and Russia strives for not hindering establishment of
relations. According to him, it is not important how much Turkey is
sincere, as any state has its interest, and one should not look for
justice, loyalty to principles or sincerety in politics. K. Bekarian
added that if Turkey is making an imitation, it will bear
responsibility for it one day.