Today.Az » Politics » Sabina Freizer: Optimism about the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations has disappeared
26 May 2009 [11:53] - Today.Az
"The optimism about the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, which appeared after 22 April, when the parties announced the signing of the road map , has suddenly disappeared", said Sabina Freizer, manager of the Caucasus Project of the International Crisis Group.
In her view, the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey would include the opening of Turkish-Armenian border, the establishment of diplomatic relations and the establishment of commissions to study the historical facts.
"All these steps were to be taken by the autumn of 2009. But now they might be postponed for several years. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slowed down the process of convergence, when on 13 May in Baku, he said that "the border was closed as a result of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani lands, and the border will remain closed unless the occupation ends", stresses Sabina Freizer.
"Concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh's, maximum that could be expected for this year is attainment of an agreement on basic principles. Following the signing of this agreement there will be a long process on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and the size of the Lachin corridor. Only after that will it be possible to talk about the withdrawal of troops from Karabakh", Sabina Freizer stressed in an article published in the Greek news online.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
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