Mitat Celikpala: Turkey-Armenia reconciliation process forced
The current Turkish-Armenian rapprochement is a forced process. Actually, neither Armenia nor Turkey is willing reconciliation, a Turkish professor said.
"The process is mostly conditioned by the incumbent leadership's aspiration for the European Union, which sets opening of the border with Armenia as a precondition," said Mitat Celikpala, associate professor of international relations at Turkey's TOBB University.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide is also among the reasons, according to him.
"Furthermore, Russia is extremely interested opening of the border, what will help alleviate Armenia's isolation and its dependence on Georgia. These factors compel Turkey to reconciliation," Celikpala said.
"However, Ankara will not open the border with Armenia unless the European Union gives green light to its accession bid. I think the situation will clear up in spring 2009," he said, 1news.az reports.
"The process is mostly conditioned by the incumbent leadership's aspiration for the European Union, which sets opening of the border with Armenia as a precondition," said Mitat Celikpala, associate professor of international relations at Turkey's TOBB University.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide is also among the reasons, according to him.
"Furthermore, Russia is extremely interested opening of the border, what will help alleviate Armenia's isolation and its dependence on Georgia. These factors compel Turkey to reconciliation," Celikpala said.
"However, Ankara will not open the border with Armenia unless the European Union gives green light to its accession bid. I think the situation will clear up in spring 2009," he said, 1news.az reports.
