Alexander Iskandaryan: Armenian-Turkish ties normalization - imitation and game

PanARMENIAN.Net - "We must remember that Turkey is a state with its own traditions. And any by Foreign Minister, Premier or President should not sound surprising," Euro-integration NGO's Chair Karen Bekaryan told today a news conference. Commenting upon premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement on ethnic minorities' dispossession being "carried out by fascists", the expert said that it might be caused by two factors: internal and external.



"Armenian-Turkish relations are key foreign policy factors. Erdogan has several times announced in Baku that there'll be no progress in normalization process unless Karabakh conflict is settled. The statement aims to soothe Azerbaijani side." "It will certainly arouse Armenia's dissatisfaction, pushing Turkey to side with our country. Nobody Turkey to renounce its history by characterizing past events as fascism," Bekaryan said.



In his turn, Director of Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan characterized such conduct as imitation and game - reiteration of double standards. "Such is Turkey's foreign policy: to make different statements in different places, siding either with Azerbaijan or Armenia," he noted. "On the one hand, they realize the importance of Armenian-Turkish ties normalization, but on the other hand, they don't want to lose Azerbaijan. They need both," Armenian expert announced.



"Turkey now conducts internal discussions and disputes over the issue. Erdogan must work on domestic market, pushing ahead with a foreign policy issue. It's quite delicate policy," Iskandaryan stressed.
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