"The travel will stain Serzh Sargsyan's reputation"
Serzh Sargsyan's travel to Turkey on October 14 will not affect Armenian-Turkish relations, says Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan. The latter thinks that Turkey has already made a decision to better its relations with Armenia.
"The decision is derived from geopolitical developments in South Caucasus. To keep its influence in South Caucasus after the Russian-Georgian conflict, Turkey has decided to reopen the Armenian-Turkish frontier but I don't think it will be done easily. Turkey will try to delay the process for Armenia to make more concessions," says Mr. Safrastyan.
Anyway, Ruben Safrastyan thinks Serzh Sargsyan should keep his promise and cancel his travel to Turkey if the frontier is not opened on October 14. "Otherwise, the trip will stain Mr. Sargsyan's reputation."
The Turkologist says normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations doesn't confine to the opening of the frontier.
"The normalization firstly implies establishment of healthy diplomatic relations between the two countries. So far, Turkey has conducted a policy of pressure against Armenia. Immediately after signing the Road-Map which sets no conditions over the Karabakh issue Turkey showed that it was ready to enter into normal relations with Armenia."
At the same time Mr. Safrastyan notes that the announcements of Turkey's high-level officials and prime minister contradict the principles of the Road-Map.
"In this context, I understand Serzh Sargsyan's announcement that he won't go to Turkey unless the frontier is opened. Never had the Armenian side made such announcements, that's why Turkey didn't respond to it."
