PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS OVER ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS BEING HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Ma y 20, 2008
YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The possibility of Armenia’s and Turkey’s
joint efforts under the circumstance of global challenges and threats
was discussed at the international conference organized on May 20
in Yerevan.
Armenian and Turkish experts, representatives of diplomatic missions
accredited in Armenia and a number of international organizations,
students took part in the conference organized by the Eurasia
Cooperation Fund and the Analytical Center for Globalization and
Regional Cooperation.
The dialogue and cooperation program between Armenia and Turkey,
which has been implemented by the Eurasia Cooperation Fund since
2006, contributes to improval of relations among people, cooperation
between NGOs and business circles, which creates a basis for regional
integration, stability, and countries’ economic development. Steven
Banks, the Head of the Political Department of the U.S. Embassy,
said. In his words, the United States with active diplomatic efforts
tries to contribute to establishment of contacts between Armenia and
Turkey, but these efforts of NGOs can also assist in the issue of
establishment of diplomatic contacts.
Stepan Grigorian, the Director of the Analytical Center for
Globalization and Regional Cooperation, said that public discussions
over Armenian-Turkish relations can be more efficient, as they are
held in an unconstrained atmosphere. According to him, in spite of
many problems, there are also some issues, in connection with which
the two countries’ interests may coincide.
In the political scientist’s opinion, in particular, the Kosovo problem
is among them, the independence of which has been recognized by Turkey,
and Armenia will recognize it sooner or later.