ARMENIAN-TURKISH-IRANIAN COOPERATION POSSIBLE, EXPERT SAYS

news.am
Feb 11 2010
Armenia

Armenian-Turkish-Iranian cooperation, including historical,
psychological and cultural ties, is quite possible both if the
Armenian-Turkish border is reopened and if it is not, Karine
Gevorgyan, the well-known Russian specialist in Iranian studies,
told NEWS.am. "Even if high-level cooperation is not formalized,
it will be – and is actually – taking place at the average public
level and as business contacts," the expert said.

Gevorgyan holds the opinion that it will be effective cooperation. The
cooperation will be developing if Armenia and Turkey reject the
principle "the worse for the neighbor, the better for me." The
"historical tics", extremely negative public sentiments, are in
the past, Gevorgyan said. "Present-day pragmatism requires regional
cooperation, especially as Armenia has great drinking water prospects –
the country might supply fresh water to the Middle East," the expert
said.

As regards Iran’s more active involvement in the regional processes,
Iranian officials’ frequent visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey,
Gevorgyan pointed out that the world situation must be accounting
for this – declarations are so much different from the real state of
affairs that the situation is getting dangerous for Iran.

As regards, Iran’s possible involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, Gevorgyan said: "The Nagorno-Karabakh problem is a platform
for diplomatic intercourse and contacts for Iran. This is a window of
opportunity for discussing problems the sides are more concerned over,
and Iran is taking it."

NEWS.am reminds the readers that in his recent interview with Turkish
mass media, Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour welcomed
the Armenian-Turkish normalization process. He pointed out the
possibility of Iranian-Turkish-Armenian cooperation.

Iran and Armenia have been effectively cooperation for a long time.

This cooperation may develop into trilateral cooperation with Turkey
involved, Bahman Hosseinpour said.