30 05 30 - ARMEN AYVAZYAN: TURKEY'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS ARMENIA WILL NOT CHANGE EVEN IF IT JOINS THE EU

Turkey's Attitude Towards Armenia Will Not Change
ArmRadio.am- 25.05.2007 16:55

It is too early for Armenia to express any position on Turkey-EU relations: at last, Turkey's accession is an issue to be decided by the European Union, Director of the "Ararat" strategic centre Armen Ayvazyan said during a discussion on May 25.

According to him, some Armenian politicians are incorrect in their opinion that becoming an EU member, Turkey will change the attitude
towards Armenia.

Armen Ayvazyan noted that even if Turkey joins the EU, it will use all the opportunities in the framework of the organization to exert pressure on Armenia.

Turning to the elections expected in Turkey in summer, Mr. Ayvazyan noted that no matter who wins - the Islamists or the secularist forces - Armenian-Turkish relations will not change.

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS WON'T CHANGE IRRESPECTIVE OF FACT WHAT POLITICAL FORCE WILL WIN TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Expressing any position connected
with Turkey-European Union relations is very premature for Armenia:
involving Turkey into EU, after all, is an issue to be decided by Europe. Armen Ayvazian, Director of Ararat strategic center, expressed such opinion at the May 25 discussion.

As he affirmed, the forecast of Armenian politicians that becoming EU member, Turkey will change its attitude to Armenia, is wrong. A. Ayvazian said that if even that country becomes a member of European family, which, in political scientist's words, is improbable,
it will use all possibilities given to it within the framework of that union to exert greater pressure upon Armenia.

Touching upon the elections to be held in summer in Turkey, A. Ayvazian said that irrespective of the fact whether the Islamists or secular political forces will win the elections, Armenian-Turkish relations
will not change.

Ruben Safrastian, Director of Institute of Oriental Studies of National Academy of Sciences, reminded that as early as before the previous elections the representatives of Justice and Development Party made sensational statements that in case of coming to power they will cooperate with Armenia purely from considerations of economic contacts. Their promises of the kind, naturally, were not fulfilled.

Western Armenia vs. (eastern) Anatolia

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