ARMENIAN TURKOLOGIST PRECLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING ON APR. 16
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 17:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Possibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening on
Apr. 16 and establishment of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and
Ankara on Apr. 16 is almost unlikely. Turkey will not risk this step,
especially before Apr. 24, an Armenian turkologist Artak Shakaryan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter at a news conference in Yerevan.
"Armenian-Turkish relations is a high level diplomatic game. US
President is visiting Ankara to discuss possibilities of
reestablishment of relations between Washington and Tehran, Turkish
-Russian ties and withdrawal of American troops from Iraq," Artak
Shakaryan noted.
According to the Armenian turkologist, both Russia and US might benefit
from intensification of Armenian-Turkish ties, so President Obama
will not use the word Genocide in his address to Armenian Diaspora.
"Armenian Genocide recognition allows USA to leverage its influence
on Ankara. I believe, Obama will not recognize the Genocide in his
address, but, in exchange, will demand Ankara to mitigate its policy
towards Yerevan. Upon which, Ali Babacan, Turkish Minister of Foreign
Affairs will arrive in Yerevan to demonstrate Turkey’s warmer position
towards Armenia," Artak Shakaryan stated.
Wall Street Journal, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels, circulated
information on possibility of Turkish -Armenian border opening and
establishment of diplomatic relations on Apr. 16. Neither side provided
official comments on the assertion above.