Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am, Armenia
Sept 5 2009

Bryza’s spouse discloses NKR, Armenian-Turkish processes

15:31 / 09/05/2009The re-opening of the Armenian-Turkish border fully
meets the West’s interests, as it will make Armenia less dependent on
Russia and Iran, that the U.S. has failed to achieve for many years
despite the great financial assistance to Armenia, Zeyno Baran,
Director of the Center for Eurasian Policy and a Senior Fellow at the
Hudson Institute, a research centre located in Washington D.C., said
in her interview with the TURAN news agency.

The prospective reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border will draw
Armenia closer to the West, which will allow the country to have
partners other than Russia and Iran. It will enable Armenians and
Turks to turn to their past together and try to make their future
better, Baran said.

According to her, official Ankara has been and will be taking
Azerbaijan’s interests into account in making decisions on all the
Caucasus-related issues, including the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement.

Baran gave assurances that Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations would
ensure caution on the part of all the regional players and enhance
stability and security in the South Caucasus.

Baran said she, as well as many in Turkey, understand Azerbaijan’s
concern. However, she does not think Turkey will make a step to the
detriment of Azerbaijan’s interests. It is not only because of
strategic relations and growing exports of Azerbaijani energy
resources through Turkey, but also because of the affinity between the
two nations, she said.

She also made an almost straightforward statement that a breakthrough
in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process should be expected soon: after
the Armenian-Turkish negotiations, the sides are speaking of the
possible reopening of the border by the end of the year. This will
enhance the efficiency of negotiations for the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The present agreement may evidence the
sides’ willingness to settle the conflict now than leave it for the
future. In the next few months, all the three Governments (Armenia,
Turkey and Azerbaijan) will be seeking to resolve these most
complicated and important problems. It would make the region free of
recriminations and mutual threats, Zeyno Baran said.