October 1, 2009 - 18:14 AMT
Possible opening of Armenian-Turkish border shows there are no eternal enemies
Possible opening of Armenian-Turkish border shows there are no eternal enemies, Head of Azri Strategic Research Centre Malkhaz Gulashvili said today during Yerevan-Kiev TV bridge on "New Political Landscape in South Caucasus". "One thing is clear: Armenian-Turkish normalization is impossible without United States and Russia's participation," Georgian expert said. Considering the possibility of opening Armenian-Turkish border, Russia is required to open border with Georgia otherwise Moscow may find itself offside, he added.

Oksana Antonenko, Senior Fellow and the Programme Director for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (Great Britain), noted in turn that Armenian-Turkish relations played an important role for establishing peace in the region. Successful efforts towards normalizing relations will make the region more open to the world, she finds. "Besides, Armenian-Turkish normalization will positively impact economic relations in South Caucasus, as well as the Karabakh settlement process," Antonenko stated.