Armenian-Turkish relations are more complicated
Turkologist Murad Bojoyan says Armenian-Turkish relations are much more complicated than the Karabakh conflict.
He says the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan -Serzh Sargysn and Ilham Aliyev are unlikely to sign a document on the conflict settlement in Kazan.
"The document in question may refer to the basic principles of the conflict settlement. If so, it will have binding force," said the Turkologist.
"It is Turks who linked Armenian-Turkish peace deal with the resolution of the Karabakh issue. Even if the latter is resolved today, it will not result in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. We may face the same situation in which we appeared two years ago in the so-called "football diplomacy" launched by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his Turkish counterpart Abdallah Gul when the reconciliation was suddenly disrupted after intensive talks," said Bojoyan.
Turkey has definite expectations from Armenia and is ready to extort the last concession from its neighbour.
"Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a matter of principle for the two countries. Turkey has never been ready to recognize the genocide and is not going to do it in the coming ten years. Armenia, for its turn, will never make concessions in the genocide issue," he said.
With regard to the reopening of Armenian-Turkish border, Bojoyan said that it must be done without any precondition.
"Turkey should sign an agreement with Armenia to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries as it did in 1991 when it recognized Armenia's independence."
The Turkologist links Armenian-Turkish relations to political developments in Armenia, saying certain steps will be taken in this direction after presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia.
Murad Bojoyan was released earlier in June under general amnesty declared by the Armenian leadership. He was arrested in January 2002 for alleged espionage in favor of Turkey and was sentenced to ten years in prison.
In reply to A1+'s question whether he will stay in Armenia, Bojoyan gave a brief answer, "Surely, I will."
