Armenian turkologist precludes the possibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening on Apr. 16

PanARMENIAN.Net - Possibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening on Apr. 16 and establishment of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara on Apr. 16 is almost unlikely. Turkey will not risk this step, especially before Apr. 24, an Armenian turkologist Artak Shakaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter at a news conference in Yerevan.



"Armenian-Turkish relations is a high level diplomatic game. US President is visiting Ankara to discuss possibilities of reestablishment of relations between Washington and Tehran, Turkish -Russian ties and withdrawal of American troops from Iraq," Artak Shakaryan noted.

According to the Armenian turkologist, both Russia and US might benefit from intensification of Armenian-Turkish ties, so President Obama will not use the word Genocide in his address to Armenian Diaspora.



''Armenian Genocide recognition allows USA to leverage its influence on Ankara. I believe, Obama will not recognize the Genocide in his address, but, in exchange, will demand Ankara to mitigate its policy towards Yerevan. Upon which, Ali Babacan, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs will arrive in Yerevan to demonstrate Turkey's warmer position towards Armenia,'' Artak Shakaryan stated.





Wall Street Journal, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels, circulated information on possibility of Turkish -Armenian border opening and establishment of diplomatic relations on Apr. 16. Neither side provided official comments on the assertion above.