Alexander Iskandaryan: RA President is very likely to leave for Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian-Turkish rapprochement is not in frozen state; it is in progress, and likelihood for sudden breaks is very little, Caucasus Institute Director, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan told today a news conference in Yerevan. "Turkey is currently conducting energy policy in the region, which began long ago. Ankara wishes to become a gas link between Europe and Russia, and in that context, it attaches importance to 'zero programs with neighboring states'. And that is not an easy task for a country like Turkey which used to be an Empire," Armenian expert noted.



"Developments observed in Armenian-Turkish relations over the recent years are already serious, and while several years ago Armenia and Turkey viewed bilateral relations from historical angle, they are now discussing real political problems."



"Doors are still open for normalizing relations between two countries. There is a serious progress in bilateral relations. Besides, freezing in Armenian-Turkish process is not advantageous to Ankara. President Sargsyan's recent statement on going to Turkey to watch Armenia-Turkey return football match only in case the border opens or countries are in the run-up to lifting the blockade became a kind of message not only for Ankara but also United States, Europe and Azerbaijan," Alexander Iskandaryan said, adding that President is very likely to leave for Turkey.



Return match between Armenian and Turkish national teams within WC 2010 frameworks is due on October 14 in Bursa, in the stadium named after Ataturk.