If Turkey is serious about normalizing formal relations - opening the border, re-establish diplomatic relations - I don't see how this process would not be significantly beneficial to both countries, and their peoples, according to Frank Engel, a member of the Europe-Armenia Advisory Council.

"There are encouraging signs that relations between Turks and Armenians don't have to remain strained forever. The existing transport links, the presence of a sizeable Armenian community in Turkey, for instance, tell me that ordinary Turks and Armenians essentially aspire to normal relations. However, with borders closed and no diplomatic missions, this aspiration is rather difficult to fulfill. The more extreme populist stances on both sides don't help either. Parts of the Armenian diaspora should start by recognizing this," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Asked whether an Turkey open the border this year, Mr. Engel said, "Of course it can. This is not a matter of feasibility, but of willingness to do it. Of course, potent internal Turkish interests still oppose this move, and as I said, extremist Armenian views are not helpful at all on the other side. The question is if Turkey wants to break the deadlock through a powerful gesture. It is not Armenia that keeps the border closed."