Russia supports efforts to help Armenia and Turkey normalize their relations: Russian expert
24.09.2010,
01:01
Russia supports all the efforts aimed at helping Armenia and Turkey normalize their strained relations, Alexei Ostrovsky, chairman of a Russian parliament committee on relations with compatriots and CIS said today in Yerevan.
YEREVAN, September 23, /ARKA/. Russia supports all the efforts aimed at helping Armenia and Turkey normalize their strained relations, Alexei Ostrovsky, chairman of a Russian parliament committee on relations with compatriots and CIS said today in Yerevan.
He said normalization of relations with Turkey is important for Armenia to normalize relations with Azerbaijan. In his words, change of public opinion can play a big role in helping resolve the Turkish-Armenian problem.
‘Armenian and Turkish authorities have become hostage to public opinion and this is why a long time is needed to resolve the problem. Time is needed to change public opinions in both countries,’ Ostrovsky said.
He said Turkey and Armenia should follow United States’ example of how to use money to shape public opinions not only at home but also abroad.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan. Over the last two years there was a thaw in relations between Yerevan and Ankara, initiated by the so-called ‘football diplomacy’ of Serzh Sargsyan. In 2009 October Turkey and Armenia signed in Zurich two protocols on establishment of diplomatic relations and development of bilateral relations, but the official Ankara used various pretexts to drag on the protocols ratification in the parliament. This forced Armenian president Sargsyan to order to suspend the process of their ratification in the Armenian parliament. -0-
He said normalization of relations with Turkey is important for Armenia to normalize relations with Azerbaijan. In his words, change of public opinion can play a big role in helping resolve the Turkish-Armenian problem.
‘Armenian and Turkish authorities have become hostage to public opinion and this is why a long time is needed to resolve the problem. Time is needed to change public opinions in both countries,’ Ostrovsky said.
He said Turkey and Armenia should follow United States’ example of how to use money to shape public opinions not only at home but also abroad.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan. Over the last two years there was a thaw in relations between Yerevan and Ankara, initiated by the so-called ‘football diplomacy’ of Serzh Sargsyan. In 2009 October Turkey and Armenia signed in Zurich two protocols on establishment of diplomatic relations and development of bilateral relations, but the official Ankara used various pretexts to drag on the protocols ratification in the parliament. This forced Armenian president Sargsyan to order to suspend the process of their ratification in the Armenian parliament. -0-
