IN ACNIS DIRECTOR’S OPINION, PRESENT DEVELOPMENTS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS LIKE THEATRE

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The present developments of the
Armenian-Turkish relations are like a theatre. Director of the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies Richard Giragosian
expressed this opinion at the Hayatsk club on July 21. In his words,
the main reason for the created situation is that Turkey has not
oriented yet what it wants and what to do while Armenia is ready for
regulation of relations. "Turkey is surprised: it underestimated
the reaction of Azerbaijan and overestimated its personal power,"
the analyst said.

It was also mentioned that there is a great possibility of settlement
of the Armenian-Turkish relations. In R. Giragosian’s words,
if the Armenian-Turkish border is even not opened the important
thing is that it has already been opened in people’s thoughts as
Turk intellectuals paid visits to Armenia and there were active
discussions on the Armenian Genocide, moreover, there were more
active ones in Turkey. In the speaker’s words, it is necessary
"for further reconciliation but will also decide the future if our
neighbour becomes a normal country, recognizing the historic issue
of the genocide or loses that possibility."