THERE WAS NO NEED TO PUT PRESSURE ON SERZH SARGSYAN TO DO SO: ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT
Today
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Oct 20 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Armenian political expert and Director of
Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan.
Day.Az:Turkey-Armenia Football match ended with the victory of
Turkey. What is the result of the "football diplomacy"?
Alexander Iskandaryan: It is too early to speak about outcomes as
the process is not yet complete, and it can develop in different ways.
Intermediate result is the separation of problems Armenian-Turkish
relations from the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
Representative of the Turkish state signed documents to improve
Armenian-Turkish relations, in which there is no word "Karabakh",
or the word "Azerbaijan".
Q: Was Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Bursa expected on the backdrop of
recent events?
A: Undoubtedly. It would be strange if having reached success in
signing the protocols Mr. Sargsyan would not go to Bursa for a
football match.
Q: The Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed in Zurich on October 10.
There is an opinion that Armenia has signed the protocols under the
pressure of external forces. What are your views on this issue?
A: No, I do not agree with this opinion. There are different views
on this issue in Armenia, but the president of Armenia and the wider
ruling elite, of course, favored normalization of relations with
Turkey and there was no need to put pressure on him to do so.
Q: The Armenian diaspora is dissatisfied and may discontinue
funding for Armenia. Dashnaks will fight against ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols, as well as the parliamentary faction of
the Heritage Party will raise the question of the resignation of the
country’s leadership. Will Armenian parliament ratify the protocols
on the backdrop of such a scenario?
A: If such a decision is adopted, of course. Correlation of coalition
and opposition forces in the parliament enable to ratify them.
Q: Will the Armenian-Turkish border open in the near future?
A: This is quite possible.