Normalization of Armenia-Turkey Relations Favorable for Yerevan-Baku Relations

24 March 2006
JTW Newws

“The normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations will have a positive impact not only upon the economy and internal political and ideological situation in Armenia but also upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The more Armenians benefit from the cooperation and good neighbor relations with Turkey the less political forces in Armenia will build the policy of hostility towards Turkey and Azerbaijan,” Azeri political scientist Zardusht Alizade stated in an interview with Armenian news source PanARMENIAN.Net.

“Integrating Europe is a good example. But counter steps are essential. Armenians are convinced that Turkey should acknowledge the events of 1915 with all the consequences. Turkey for its part considers that Armenia should stop being an instrument in the hands of anti-Turkish forces, first of all the Russian special services and right-wing conservative parties in Europe,’ Alizade said.

About 20 percent of Azeri territories have been under Armenian occupation. About 1 million Azeri people were forced to migrate by the Armenians. Armenia also does not recognise Turkey's national borders.

Only some 12% is under Armenian control as a buffer zone. As far as 1 million refugees is concerned, they left when the Nagorno Karabagh forces advanced because they were scared. Nagorno Karabagh did not ask for war. They were bombarded daily by Azeri forces because they expressed their legitimate right of self determination. Negotiations are presently underway for exchanging land against guarantee for self determination.

Many Armenian extremists are against the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border gates.

The only party putting a condition for opening up the border is Turkey not Armenia or the extremists. President Robert Kocharian told many times that Armenia does not set any preconditions for normalizing relations with Turkey.

Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.