ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION IS NOT URGENT FOR ANKARA: EXPERT

news.am
Feb 4 2010
Armenia

U.S. is concerned with its geopolitical and economic interests in
Caucasus, so I take U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg’s
visit to our region an ‘inspection visit’," Azeri political scientist
Zardusht Alizade stated. According to him, Steinberg will exert
pressure on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in the course of his
visit to Yerevan so as Armenia accepts Madrid Principles, while
discussing Armenia-Turkey border opening with Baku and Ankara.

"I am confident that Armenia-Turkey reconciliation will be discussed
at Steinberg-Aliyev meeting to have Baku not hindering the process.

This issue will also be discussed with Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu.

That is at the meetings both Baku and Ankara should set their
conditions on Washington to achieve success in Armenia-Turkey
rapprochement. It is not accidental that Steinberg will meet with
Aliyev and Davutoglu after the meeting with Serzh Sargsyan. Taking
into account the recent statements by Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev,
Americans will not get the desired result," the expert noted.

According to him, Armenia-Turkey reconciliation is not an urgent issue
for Ankara at least till 2011 parliamentary elections. "Erdogan’s
office will not advance the process in such tensed political
situation. Yerevan also realizes that Turkey protracted the issue
for quite a while. In any case, the last word will be after Ankara
and its stance is clear," Alizade stated.