Fresh start?: Sargsyan makes more overtures to Turkey risking domestic backlash
President Serzh Sargsyan risked renewed criticism from hardliners at home as he proposed a “fresh start” in Armenian-Turkish relations Wednesday.
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (“We Are Ready to Talk to Turkey”, July 9) Sargsyan reviews the history of post-independent Armenia’s [lack of] relations with its western neighbor Turkey and writes:
“The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I take this opportunity to propose a fresh start – a new phase of dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of normalizing relations and opening our common border.”
Sargsyan’s opinion in the renowned publication came only weeks after his statement in which he in principle agreed to the Turkish proposal to set up a panel of historians to review historical facts regarding the genocide -- a move that received a negative reaction from the Armenian opposition and at least one pro-government party known for its hard line on relations with Turkey. President Serzh Sargsyan risked renewed criticism from hardliners at home as he proposed a “fresh start” in Armenian-Turkish relations Wednesday.
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (“We Are Ready to Talk to Turkey”, July 9) Sargsyan reviews the history of post-independent Armenia’s [lack of] relations with its western neighbor Turkey and writes:
“The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I take this opportunity to propose a fresh start – a new phase of dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of normalizing relations and opening our common border.”
Sargsyan’s opinion in the renowned publication came only weeks after his statement in which he in principle agreed to the Turkish proposal to set up a panel of historians to review historical facts regarding the genocide -- a move that received a negative reaction from the Armenian opposition and at least one pro-government party known for its hard line on relations with Turkey.
Mentioning in his op-ed that during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Turkey closed its border with Armenia as an expression of ethnic solidarity with Turkic Azerbaijan, Sargsyan adds that “the regrettable result is that for almost 15 years, the geopolitically vital border between Armenia and Turkey has become a barrier to diplomatic and economic cooperation.”
“And the Armenian people are not the only ones who have suffered from these restrictions and detours. All countries in the region, and the broader community of European nations, pay a high cost for these unnatural barriers to commerce, progress and international cooperation,” the Armenian leader underscores, calling for normal political and economic relations between the two countries.
“Establishing normal political relations would enable us to create a commission to comprehensively discuss all of the complex issues affecting Armenia and Turkey. We cannot expect tangible progress without such structured relations. Only through them can we create an effective dialogue touching upon even the most contentious historical issues,” said Sargsyan repeating his invitation to Turkish President Abdullah Gul to visit Yerevan “to enjoy together” an upcoming World Cup qualifier between the two countries’ football teams on September 6.
While it is yet unclear whether Gul will accept the invitation, which has become a subject of wide coverage and discourse in both local and international media, the acceptance of the proposal, according to Sargsyan, “will announce a new symbolic start in our relations.”
“There may be possible political obstacles on both sides along the way. However, we must have the courage and the foresight to act now,” says Sargsyan. “Armenia and Turkey need not and should not be permanent rivals...”
“And here comes the invitation. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has invited President Gul to the Armenia-Turkey football match,” writes the Turkish Hurriyet daily, predicting that Gul will accept the invitation and that regardless of the score of the game, “peace will win.”
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (“We Are Ready to Talk to Turkey”, July 9) Sargsyan reviews the history of post-independent Armenia’s [lack of] relations with its western neighbor Turkey and writes:
“The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I take this opportunity to propose a fresh start – a new phase of dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of normalizing relations and opening our common border.”
Sargsyan’s opinion in the renowned publication came only weeks after his statement in which he in principle agreed to the Turkish proposal to set up a panel of historians to review historical facts regarding the genocide -- a move that received a negative reaction from the Armenian opposition and at least one pro-government party known for its hard line on relations with Turkey. President Serzh Sargsyan risked renewed criticism from hardliners at home as he proposed a “fresh start” in Armenian-Turkish relations Wednesday.
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (“We Are Ready to Talk to Turkey”, July 9) Sargsyan reviews the history of post-independent Armenia’s [lack of] relations with its western neighbor Turkey and writes:
“The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I take this opportunity to propose a fresh start – a new phase of dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of normalizing relations and opening our common border.”
Sargsyan’s opinion in the renowned publication came only weeks after his statement in which he in principle agreed to the Turkish proposal to set up a panel of historians to review historical facts regarding the genocide -- a move that received a negative reaction from the Armenian opposition and at least one pro-government party known for its hard line on relations with Turkey.
Mentioning in his op-ed that during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Turkey closed its border with Armenia as an expression of ethnic solidarity with Turkic Azerbaijan, Sargsyan adds that “the regrettable result is that for almost 15 years, the geopolitically vital border between Armenia and Turkey has become a barrier to diplomatic and economic cooperation.”
“And the Armenian people are not the only ones who have suffered from these restrictions and detours. All countries in the region, and the broader community of European nations, pay a high cost for these unnatural barriers to commerce, progress and international cooperation,” the Armenian leader underscores, calling for normal political and economic relations between the two countries.
“Establishing normal political relations would enable us to create a commission to comprehensively discuss all of the complex issues affecting Armenia and Turkey. We cannot expect tangible progress without such structured relations. Only through them can we create an effective dialogue touching upon even the most contentious historical issues,” said Sargsyan repeating his invitation to Turkish President Abdullah Gul to visit Yerevan “to enjoy together” an upcoming World Cup qualifier between the two countries’ football teams on September 6.
While it is yet unclear whether Gul will accept the invitation, which has become a subject of wide coverage and discourse in both local and international media, the acceptance of the proposal, according to Sargsyan, “will announce a new symbolic start in our relations.”
“There may be possible political obstacles on both sides along the way. However, we must have the courage and the foresight to act now,” says Sargsyan. “Armenia and Turkey need not and should not be permanent rivals...”
“And here comes the invitation. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has invited President Gul to the Armenia-Turkey football match,” writes the Turkish Hurriyet daily, predicting that Gul will accept the invitation and that regardless of the score of the game, “peace will win.”