CHANGE OF GENERATIONS IN POLITICAL ELITE OF TURKEY MAY BE INSTRUMENTAL IN IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency
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DAVID HOVHANNISSIAN:

CHANGE OF GENERATIONS IN POLITICAL ELITE OF TURKEY MAY
BE INSTRUMENTAL IN IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

YEREVAN, July 17 (Noyan Tapan). The current period in
Turkish political life, when a change of generations of
politicians is taking place, is one of the most tense ones; at
the same time it rekindles certain hopes in terms of possible
shifts in Armenian-Turkish relations, a member of the
Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC), Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, senior lecturer at Yerevan
State University David Hovhannissian said in an interview with
NT's correspondent.
According to Hovhannissian, the elder generation, whose
embodiment is Premier Ecevit, is retiring from the political
arena without preparing a substitution. The generation that
comes to replace the current one has a more liberal way of
thinking and is not bound by stereotypes. In his opinion, it is
important for the domestic life of Turkey and also from the
viewpoint of Armenian-Turkish relations, for it may play a
positive role in establishing normal relations with Armenia.
He pointed out that the well-known Turkish position,
according to which the opening of borders and establishment of
diplomatic relations with Armenia is linked with Azerbaijan and
the Karabakh conflict, has not undergone any change. However,
during negotiations within the framework of the TARC, where
global problems existing between the two nations were discussed
at the level of representatives of civil societies, it was
pointed out, including by the Turkish side, that the opening of
borders between the two countries would promote a better climate
in bilateral relations as well as in the whole region.
Hovhannissian expressed confidence that a real peace
between the two communities can be based only on Turkey's
recognizing the fact of the Armenian Genocide. According to him,
it is a problem of Armenia's national security. "Of course, the
Genocide becomes an internationally recognized fact, but one can
make sure that it never repeats through Turkish admission only,"
the ambassador emphasized. He thinks that even the discussions
within the framework of the commission help increase the level
of Armenia's national security.

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