Armenia's stance remains unchanged

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a conference organized last week in Istanbul upon the initiative of SETA, all raporteurs were for Armenian-Turkish ties normalization, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of Caucasus Institute, told a news conference. Dividing prevalent opinions into two categories, Iskandaryan noted that some speakers found Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenian Turkish ties normalization simultaneous processes, while others insisted on the two issues being interrelated.



"Conference focused on a variety of issues. Different opinions were expressed both by Armenian and Turkish sides. Some Armenian delegation representatives were against border opening before recognition of Armenian Genocide. Turkish side was mainly radical and nationalistic in its views denying real importance of any cooperation with Armenia," Iskandaryan said, adding that parties had also discussed normalization of ties with Armenia.



Head of "Eurointegration" NGO Karen Bekaryan touched upon positive consequences in terms of NKR representative Masis Mayilyan's presence at the event. "Turkish side was well-prepared; there were high-ranking diplomats attending the conference. And what's mostly important, we saw with our eyes that Turkish society was split over the issue of establishing ties with Armenia," he said.



Bekaryan also stressed that Armenia has no intention to change its stance on normalization of ties with Turkey and Karabakh status. The two process are not interrelated to each other, he added.