Does Russia hinder Armenia-Turkey relations?
Changes in the relations of Armenia and Turkey should be awaited after November 1 parliamentary elections, says Circassian analyst Ozgyur Unluhisarchiki during the discussion on Armenian-Turkish relations. “If Erdogan’s party forms a coalition with the nationalist forces, it may become an obstacle for more open relations with Armenia. But if the coalition is formed with the Republicans, it will be possible to activate the relations.” He thinks that at present Turkey has appeared in difficult situation: it is isolated outside, there is also inner conflict and that country needs a stable neighbor. “Turkey needs good relations with Armenia, and when the next stage of negotiations starts, it will be necessary to separate Armenian-Turkish relations from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and from Azerbaijan-Armenia relations.” Political figure Davit Shahnazaryan notes, “Adopting zero problems with the neighbors, it seems that Turkey has remained without neighbors.” Davit Shahnazaryan isn’t optimistic in terms of making relations between two countries closer. He thinks that in this situation Armenia and Turkey must try to clarify their relations without mediators, as not all the countries want to support improvement in the relations. The potential of business relations between two countries hasn’t been used totally. According to the research of “The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey”, Turkey is the 39th country carrying out imports into Armenia. Representative of the organization Ussal Sahbaz says, “Turkey may be interested in Armenia’s information sector. Technological company like Picsart operates in Armenia. Here Turkish capital has a chance to express itself.” According to the experts, independent of the fact what will be the political relations between Armenia and Turkey, the relations between two societies should be inevitably made closer.
