Expert: I do not rule out Lavrov was instructed to help normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey is a very convenient country for transit of hydrocarbons from Asia to Europe, Yerevan State University professor David Hovhannisyan said during "Armenia in the Near East: infrastructure globalization" round table discussion held in Caucasus Institute today.



"The Russian-Turkish relations are improving against tensions between Turkey and the U.S. Sergei Lavrov's recent visit to Ankara was conditioned by agreements on transit of Russian gas through Turkey to Europe. I do not rule out that Lavrov was also instructed to help normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. It's remarkable that the visit was held immediately after Serzh Sargsyan announced in Moscow his intention to invite Gul to Yerevan for a qualifying match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup due in the Armenian capital on September 6.



"The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I take this opportunity to propose a fresh start - a new phase of dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of normalizing relations and opening our common border," Sargsyan said in an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal.