October 28, 2009 - 15:53 AMT
Seyran Amiryan: Armenia population is not ready for RA-Turkey border opening
"Armenia population is not yet ready for RA-Turkey border opening," YSU professor, candidate of psychological sciences, Seyran Amiryan said at October 28 meeting, entitled "Armenian population's psychological perception of Armenia-Turkey relations".

The psychologist based his statement on the fact that today either intelligentsia or government take little time to discuss opening of Armenia-Turkey border with people, while people are waiting for an open and free discussion.

"Opening of border is a chance for establishing contact between the two nations. We can't live in isolation. Only by communicating could we help Turkeys' population discover our nation and perhaps recognize the Genocide," Seyran Amiryan emphasized.

Commenting on the fact of people's having more positive attitude for [protocols' conclusion before they were actually signed, Seyran Amiryan noted that "people we just brought to face the fact, without being prepared first. So the strain is quite natural. Sill, the step was undertaken because of benefits it will bring Armenia. Our people need to believe in themselves and government's actions. We, Armenians, are used to disagree and deny, still it's time the habit is changed."

"We're used to painting everything in black colors: instead we have to shed the role of a victim, and look into the future by changing ourselves and effecting changes around us," the psychologist concluded.