NO ALTERNATIVES TO POLICY TOWARD ARMENIA IN TURKISH SOCIETY
26.05.2007,
00:07
No alternatives in the state policy toward Armenia have been formed in Turkish society, stated Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Ra Academy of Sciences, Professor Ruben Safaryan.
YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. No alternatives in the state policy toward Armenia have been formed in Turkish society, stated Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Ra Academy of Sciences, Professor Ruben Safaryan.
"No serious differences between the governmental and public positions on the relations with Armenia can yet be observed," he said.
According to Safaryan, a number of non-governmental organizations expressing the people's opinion have been formed in Turkey over the last decade.
"However, their ranks have not any influential organization that would seriously deal with relations with Armenia," Safaryan said. He added that individual public figures in Turkey pronounce for the re-opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and re-establishment o diplomatic relations.
Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations. The Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 on official Ankara's initiative.
Turkey is setting a number of preconditions for establishing bilateral relations, particularly Armenia's giving up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and concessions in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
International experts estimate the economic damage annually caused to Armenia by the blockade at $500mln. P.T. -0—
"No serious differences between the governmental and public positions on the relations with Armenia can yet be observed," he said.
According to Safaryan, a number of non-governmental organizations expressing the people's opinion have been formed in Turkey over the last decade.
"However, their ranks have not any influential organization that would seriously deal with relations with Armenia," Safaryan said. He added that individual public figures in Turkey pronounce for the re-opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and re-establishment o diplomatic relations.
Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations. The Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 on official Ankara's initiative.
Turkey is setting a number of preconditions for establishing bilateral relations, particularly Armenia's giving up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and concessions in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
International experts estimate the economic damage annually caused to Armenia by the blockade at $500mln. P.T. -0—
