SMOLIN SAYS TURKEY NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROCESS

Panorama.am
17:54 26/04/2010

Armenian-Turkish normalization process is "dead", said the head
of foreign department in Russia’s Institute for Strategic Studies,
Mikhail Smolin.

"After the Turkish side put forth Nagorno-Karabakh as a precondition,
saying the process depends on Armenia’s stance over the issue, and
actually demanded to hand Karabakh to Azerbaijan, the process was
halted and the President’s TV address proved this," Mikhail Smolin
told Panorama.am.

According to the expert, following the Armenian side’s decision,
"new offers may get on path, and Turkey may attempt to put forth new
conception," however, the Armenian side "will hardly take any moves."

M. Smolin said he expects no progress in Armenia-Turkey deal in the
upcoming future.

When asked whether new offers may arise over Armenia-Turkey
normalization as a result of Russian President Medvedev’s upcoming
visit to Turkey in May, Smolin replied:

"A wide frame of issues will be discussed during the visit, though,
the opening of Armenia-Turkey border may hardly be touched.

Nagorno-Karabakh issue may be discussed, but Turkey will hardly get
an offer to get involved in the process."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress