Kaan Soyak: U.S. and Russia key players in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Arrival of Turkey's President Abdullah Gul in Yerevan was an important and resolute step. The fact that he invited Mr Sargsyan to Istanbul is no less important, chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council Kaan Soyak, said in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.



"We never thought that President Sargsyan will invite his Turkish counterpart to Armenia and that Mr Gul will accept the invitation. But it happened. I should mention that the internal political situation in Turkey did not affect the President's decision. Moreover, judging by publications in Armenia and Turkish press, the public in both states welcome normalization of relations and opening of the border," he said and added, "I am hopeful that Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Istanbul in 2009 will be another step toward normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations."



"We are neighbors. The region should be secure and peaceful. This refers not only to South Caucasus countries but also to Syria, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon," the TABDC chairman said.



U.S. and Russia are key players in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, according to Mr Soyak.



Turkey's President Abdullah Gul was in Yerevan on Sept. 6 to watch a World Cup qualifier between the Armenian and Turkish national teams. He invited his Armenian counterpart to a return match due in Istanbul in October 2009.

Full text of the interview