Expert: Armenia must shift ‘football diplomacy’ to new level

 February 21, 2012 - 12:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies has stressed the need for Armenia to move diplomacy on Armenian-Turkish relations to a new level.

“Armenia must voice readiness to establish intergovernmental ties with Turkey without any preconditions, demanding the same from Turkey,” Ruben Safrastyan said.

According to the expert, “Turkey’s readiness to step up relations with Armenia without preconditions implies denying its policy of the last 20 years.

Mr. Safrastyan further noted that Armenia will always prioritize national interests.

“Apparently, Armenia has neither won nor lost football diplomacy,” he said.

The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

In August 2011, the protocols were removed from the agenda but later were brought back again.