ARMENIA, TURKEY UNLIKELY TO NORMALIZE TIES WITHIN A DAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.01.2010 18:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties is a
very important issue in terms of enhancing the current atmosphere
of instability and isolation, according to Dessislava Roussanova,
International Alert’s Project Director for Eurasian Affairs.

As she told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the process is unlikely to be
smooth given the existing fears and unresolved problems in the region.

"Most of the borders are closed, and there are mounting tendencies of
aggression… Normalization of all kinds of relations is a lengthy
and complicated process, with Armenian-Turkish rapprochement being
part of it. But it is necessary to resolve unsettled issues in South
Caucasus; that’s first of all important for the region. Although
it is impossible to achieve normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties
within a day, we do observe positive tendencies," the expert said.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

International Alert is an independent peace-building organization
that works to lay the foundations for lasting peace and security
in communities affected by violent conflict. It operates in over 20
countries and territories around the world, both directly with people
affected by violent conflict as well as at government, EU and UN
levels to shape both policy and practice in building sustainable peace.