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"WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO GET CONFUSED IN THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS ANYMORE," ARMENIAN AND TURKISH POLITICAL SCIENTISTS SAY
Nelly GRIGORYAN
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/07/17/91490/
July 17, 2012 15:43
Although possible changes in Turkey seem improbable to many people,
Ozgur Unluhisarcıklı, the German Marshal Fund Ankara Office director,
is convinced that after the election to take place in Turkey in 2014,
substantial changes will take place in Turkey itself, which will have
a substantial impact on the external political course, including the
Armenian-Turkish relations.
He thinks that most probably the "Russian version" will be employed,
President Gul will become the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Erdoğan
will assume the President's office. Ozgur Unluhisarcıklı thinks such
developments will have a positive impact on the Armenian-Turkish
relations, since it is well-known that according to the Turkish
Constitution, the main powers are given to the Prime Minister and
the President plays more of a symbolic role and Gul is known for
his positive approach to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and solving issues more through peaceful negotiations.
Referring to a set of economic prerequisites, he thinks that it is
not probable that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will be taken out of the
package of normalizing relations with Armenia. However, he thinks
that in 2014, a new window will be opened in the Armenian-Turkish
relations and we don't have the right to get confused anymore.
Let us inform that the latter is in Armenia, at the invitation of
the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation,
in the framework of discussions on the subject The Current State of
the Armenian-Turkish Relations. www.aravot.am inquired of Stepan
Grigoryan, the head of the Analytical Center on Globalization and
Regional Cooperation, what significance discussions on the subject had
in the current frozen state of the Armenian-Turkish formal relations.
Our interlocutor noted that regardless of the fact whether there
was an active political process under way or not, discussions in
social, intellectual, expert circles should continue. "In the end,
the Armenian-Turkish relations will be normalized, since Armenia's
and Turkey's opinions on a lot of issues are close. Until there is
a necessity to normalize relations at the state level, we should
continue creating an atmosphere of mutual trust. Who could imagine
that the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan would worsen to the
level of war and local wars in the region between the two Muslim
countries would become probable. Or the current relations between
Turkey and Israel that they expel ambassadors. So, the world changes
and we should lay the foundation now and break the stereotypes of
our society, one of which is 'the Russian is an eternal friend and
the Turk is an enemy.' By the way, the lack of formal relations is
the very reason that we cannot promote close opinions."
Our interlocutor still avoids making public the set of issues, on
which the approaches of Armenia and Turkey are very close.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/07/17/91490/
July 17, 2012 15:43
Although possible changes in Turkey seem improbable to many people,
Ozgur Unluhisarcıklı, the German Marshal Fund Ankara Office director,
is convinced that after the election to take place in Turkey in 2014,
substantial changes will take place in Turkey itself, which will have
a substantial impact on the external political course, including the
Armenian-Turkish relations.
He thinks that most probably the "Russian version" will be employed,
President Gul will become the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Erdoğan
will assume the President's office. Ozgur Unluhisarcıklı thinks such
developments will have a positive impact on the Armenian-Turkish
relations, since it is well-known that according to the Turkish
Constitution, the main powers are given to the Prime Minister and
the President plays more of a symbolic role and Gul is known for
his positive approach to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and solving issues more through peaceful negotiations.
Referring to a set of economic prerequisites, he thinks that it is
not probable that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will be taken out of the
package of normalizing relations with Armenia. However, he thinks
that in 2014, a new window will be opened in the Armenian-Turkish
relations and we don't have the right to get confused anymore.
Let us inform that the latter is in Armenia, at the invitation of
the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation,
in the framework of discussions on the subject The Current State of
the Armenian-Turkish Relations. www.aravot.am inquired of Stepan
Grigoryan, the head of the Analytical Center on Globalization and
Regional Cooperation, what significance discussions on the subject had
in the current frozen state of the Armenian-Turkish formal relations.
Our interlocutor noted that regardless of the fact whether there
was an active political process under way or not, discussions in
social, intellectual, expert circles should continue. "In the end,
the Armenian-Turkish relations will be normalized, since Armenia's
and Turkey's opinions on a lot of issues are close. Until there is
a necessity to normalize relations at the state level, we should
continue creating an atmosphere of mutual trust. Who could imagine
that the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan would worsen to the
level of war and local wars in the region between the two Muslim
countries would become probable. Or the current relations between
Turkey and Israel that they expel ambassadors. So, the world changes
and we should lay the foundation now and break the stereotypes of
our society, one of which is 'the Russian is an eternal friend and
the Turk is an enemy.' By the way, the lack of formal relations is
the very reason that we cannot promote close opinions."
Our interlocutor still avoids making public the set of issues, on
which the approaches of Armenia and Turkey are very close.