Europe wants to assume credit for Armenian-Turkish dialog

PanARMENIAN.Net - Europe wants to assume the credit for Armenian-Turkish dialog, a Russian expert said.



"As a matter of fact, the European Union has nothing to do with it. The presidential meeting is the result of pragmatism manifested by the Armenian authorities," Sergei Markedonov, head of the interethnic relations department at the institute of political and military analysis, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.



"Armenia should break the isolation and can talks even with Turkey for the purpose," he added.



French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed Saturday Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul's visit to neighboring Armenia as "courageous and historic".



"While the region is in the midst of a serious crisis, (his visit) is a courageous and historic gesture for Turkish-Armenian relations," Sarkozy, who currently holds the European Unions rotating presidency, said in a statement "It allows hope for progress soon in establishing normal relations between Turkey and Armenia," he said.