ARMENIA, TURKEY REACHED THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.07.2009 13:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There have been doubts growing about Turkey’s sincere
wish to normalize relations with Armenia, a Russian expert said.
"Turkey could use the talks to gain political dividends from the
West. Now, it’s the moment of truth for the two neighboring countries,"
Mikhail Alexandrov, head of Caucasus department at the Institute of
CIS Studies, told PanARMENIAN.Net.
"There are two variants: either Turkey wanted to weaken the worldwide
campaign for recognition of the Armenian Genocide or it really wanted
to normalize relations. At that, presence of Turkish President Abdullah
Gul at the football match in Yerevan last year was a serious diplomatic
move," he said.
According to Mr. Alexandrov, if Turkey doesn’t take action to improve
relations with Armenia, it will cast doubt on its intensions. "In
this case, Armenia will have to suspend talks and resume efforts for
Genocide recognition," he said.
In a joint press conference with Serbian Minister Boris Tadic,
Armenian leader Serzh Sargsyan said he will attend the return match
between the Armenian and Turkish football teams in Bursa only if the
border is open or on the threshold of lifting the blockade.