There is alternative option to start normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations: expert

YEREVAN, December 29, /ARKA/. An Armenian expert in Turkic issues said today some U.S.-based think-tanks are considering an alternative option to press for normalization of Armenia-Turkish relationships. Speaking at a news conference Artak Shakarian said the alternative option calls for reopening of Armenia-Turkey railroad instead of opening the border.

In his words, this is a question that does not require much adjustment, except for an accord between foreign ministers of both countries and ratification of two protocols which were signed in 2009 October in Zurich by Armenia and Turkey to normalize their relations and open the border.

According to him, in return Turkey would demand that Armenia lift the blockade of Azerbaijani autonomous region of Nakhichevan, which he described as a Turkish province due to strong Turkish presence there.

Shakarian said the railway communication may run from Turkish Kars to Nakhichevan and from there to Armenian Masis. He said the resumption of railroad communication depends largely on Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan.

Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support for its ally, Azerbaijan, which had a dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan.

There are several sensitive issues complicating the establishment of normal relations between the two countries, particularly, Ankara’s blatant support of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process and Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.

Long strained relations between Armenia and Turkey took a major step forward on October 10, 2009, when Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandian and Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Devutoglu signed protocols on establishing diplomatic relations and developing bilateral relations. But on April 23 this year Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree putting a hold on ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols, blaming Turkey fro delaying the protocols’ ratification by its parliament. -0-