Semneby is sure Protocols will be ratified
"The current situation in Armenia-Turkey relations cannot continue forever. Everyone should adapt to the normalisation prospects and border opening. In that case the neighbours of the two countries will think of ways to protect their interests in the new situation," EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told Russian Vremya Novostey daily.
As for Russia's interests in Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, Semneby said that "this country started to take steps demonstrating it expects changes in the Caucasus long ago. Russia makes great investments in Armenia and all current investments in Armenian infrastructure by Russia will get a payback only in case Armenia-Turkey border opens. The European Union will only welcome Moscow's efforts in the rapprochement."
Mr. Semneby noted that the impetus to reconciliation was given not only by Armenia though the interest of Armenian side is irrefutable.
"Turkey realises that it can play a crucial role in the region only after this issue is solved. After all, the conflict with Armenia restricted, to a large extent, chances of Turkey in South Caucasus.
Semneby also referred to the Karabakh conflict and the attempts to link it with Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. He thinks that similar attempts might reverse both processes: "Armenian-Turkish relations and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are two separate issues and are not interwoven anyway. Otherwise, the chances for normalisation of relations will be re-blocked. However, any development in one of these issues will affect the entire atmosphere. It is necessary that we assist their positive interaction as far as possible."
The EU special representative is hopeful that normalisation of Armenia-Turkey relations will create new opportunities for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"I am sure that the Armenian leadership realises that the present status-quo of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be perpetual and it is necessary to create correct conditions so that the leadership can also handle Nagorno-Karabakh issues," the EU special representative said.
Touching upon concessions by both sides, Semneby said they are clearly defined in the Madrid Principles. "Naturally, the most complicated problems are in the details, but in general, the Madrid document describes resolutions, according to which concessions are going to be made by both sides. The most complicated issues which refer to Nagorno-Karabakh's status are postponed for an indefinite time-period."
