The problem of opening the Armenian-Turkish border by Ankara is much more complicated than it seems from the first look, said specialist in Turkic philology doctor Ruben Safrastyan, the director of Institute of Oriental Studies of RA NAS (National Academy of Sciences) to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. In his words, the matter is not about an isolated decision on the scope of foreign policy, but about revising the course towards Armenia, which has been worked out by Turkey during a number of years. “That course is based on exerting pressure on Armenia aiming at getting compromises in a number of issues, and not on principles of searching mutually acceptable compromises in problematic issues, which exist in relations of both countries. As evidence serve the repeatedly claimed preconditions for normalizing the relations by Turkey,” he underlined.
In Safrastyan’s opinion, in the framework of that course closed borders with Armenia, which does not have access to the sea, “is a significant means of exerting pressure or, to say it in another way, a tool for fulfilling the above mentioned course of pressure.” He stressed that the opening of border by Turkey is possible only after full revision of its political line towards Armenia. “Surely, it’s a difficult process, which demands a lot of time, revision of a number of stereotypes and refusal from some basic directions of strategic lines of Turkish diplomacy towards Armenia,” Safrastyan thinks.
The director of the Institute of Oriental Studies expressed regret that there are nor signs that attest to the beginning of that process. “The course, which has been worked out towards Armenia in the past decade, is evident in Turkish political establishment: not a single significant political party, not a single stream of social-political thought do not put forward something, which would remind a remote alternative approach. My statement equally refers both to Islamists, Kemalists and to ultra-nationalistic, right and left wing parties. The analysis of a number latest publications in Turkish Media allows us to make conclusion that some influential American circles, which of course, pursue there own goals, have intensified pressure on Turkey on that issue. As a means of pressure they use the most probable adoption of a resolution on the Armenian Genocide of 1915 after the Democratic Party won the November held elections. The Genocide towards the Armenian nation: they underline that the only way to avoid it is to open the blocked border, which has been closed over 15 years ago.” Safrastyan said.
Alongside he noticed that if even the ruling Islamic Party of Justice and Development were ready to make not great compromises in that issue, the supreme military commanders of the country has enough resources to blockade them. “Particularly, the National Security Council, which traditionally is under the influence of military commanders, still in 2000 referred the whole complex of issues towards Armenia to the sphere of national security, i.e. took the right of casting vote. Proceeding from the above-told opinions I consider the discussions on opening Armenian-Turkish border in near future as premature, which do not have real basis,” stated doctor Safrastyan.
