Armenia’s president made well-timed step – experts

Since gaining independence Armenia has been committed to its foreign policy in terms of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, with the exception that the Armenian side has been gradually adopting a harder line on its demands, Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Academy of Sciences of Armenia, told Tert.am.

“Armenia has always favored improvement of its relations with Turkey, without any preconditions. Armenia is committed to its policy. This principle remains in force, but new approaches have been shown, and we are now discussing not only the problem of recognition, but that of demands as well,” Mr Safrastyan said.

He considers logical that Armenia has been pursuing a harder line since 1999-2000. According to him, if Turkey had changed its policy, Armenia would not have had to take such steps.

Most experts welcomed Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s step. However, they called it a belated step because the Armenian-Turkish protocols have done their “dirty business” by raising Turkey’s role.
Mr Safaryan disagrees with experts. According to him, Armenia’s president made a well-timed step.

“We have seen Turkey continues disregarding Armenia’s ‘no preconditions’ policy. On the other hand, Turkey has lately made overtly impudent steps on the threshold of the Armenian Genocide centennial. I mean their cheap trick involving the Battle of Gallipoli. Under the circumstances such a step was to be expected before April 24, but it was made even earlier, and I welcome it,” Mr Safrastyan said.

The international community understands everything and has seen Turkey has not changed its policy toward Armenia for years. So Turkish propaganda may make use of this step to slander Armenia once again, but it will not succeed.

Expert in Turkic studies Andranik Ispiryan told Tert.am that the Armenians expected President Serzh Sargsyan to make that step.

“It was expected prior to April 24 because Turkey has not so far taken any steps to Armenia-Turkey rapprochement. On the contrary, as the Armenian Genocide centennial is nearing, Turkey has been following a harder line in denying the Armenian Genocide, which has logically led to the present situation,” he said.

The withdrawal of the Armenian-Turkish protocols has not essentially changed anything because the protocols had no legal force. However, in terms of propaganda it created a situation for Turkey. It claims it is extending its hand to Armenia, protocols were signed, but Armenia does not respond.

“And Armenia’s president is thus putting an end to this all,” Mr Ispiryan said.

As regards Turkey’s response, he said that, regrettably, Turkish society and mass media do not properly present Turkey’s responsibility for Armenia-Turkey rapprochement.

“What is the meaning of the headline ‘Sargsyan has buried Armenian-Turkey rapprochement process’ by one of the Turkish media outlets? That is, they are once again trying to accuse the Armenian side, turning a blind eye to the fact that it was Turkey that, after signing the protocols, placed them on the furthest back burner.”