Turkey has changed its stance on Armenia, says Stepan Grigoryan

Turkey has launched a new policy when it comes to relations with Armenia, politologist Stepan Grigoryan told a news conference today as he referred to the fact that Ankara removed Armenia from the list of countries posing threat to Turkey.

“Do you remember the story of not installing a cross on the dome of Sourb Khach [Saint Cross Church]? But I was saying that the cross would [definitely] be installed on the dome. Today Turkey’s policy is aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia. That does not mean that they have started to love the Armenians; simply the policy has changed,” explained he, adding that unfortunately Turkey’s leadership was not so strong as to ratify the Armenia-Turkey Protocols.

According to Mr Grigoryan, Turkey cannot build closer ties with Russia and Iran by artificially ignoring Armenia. Turkey has changed its attitude also towards the Armenians living in its territory, because a Turkey that wants EU membership cannot but respect the rights of national minorities, he added.

In his words, Turkish authorities already allow Armenian experts visiting Turkey to visit Turkish universities, which is huge progress.

Further he reminded that Turkey is one of the countries that recognized Kosovo’s independence and currently does help Abkhazia, while still being considered Georgia’s strategic partner. This, according to him, testifies to the fact that Ankara too is in favor of nations’ right to-self determination.

“We do understand that there is the Azerbaijani issue … but overall our interests coincide,” said he, adding that it is not through the help of world powers but rather through their own initiative that Armenia and Turkey should normalize their relations.

The US Congress, according to him, may raise the Genocide issue for several times, but never recognize it, which again supportive of the fact that world powers may use the issue to exert pressure on Turkey, as needed.