May 21, 2010 - 14:49 AMT
Armenian-Turkish relations are based on political reality

Political analyst Sergey Markedonov said that the current developments in the region – the attempts to normalize the Armenian-Turkish and Russian-Georgian relations, are a result of empires’ collapse.

“Parallels can be drawn between the Armenian-Turkish and Russian-Georgian relations, but these processes have more differences than similarities,” Mr. Markedonov told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“Heirs of the Armenian Genocide survivors became rather successful businessmen and politicians in the U.S., Russia and Europe. The situation with Russia and Georgia is different. From time to time, the sides make controversial statements. Meanwhile, Georgians have huge business in Moscow, paying taxes to the Russian budget. Besides, Georgian cultural and political elite is also in Russia, what cannot be said of Armenians in Turkey,” he said.

Based on political reality, Armenian-Turkish relations are more rational than Russian-Georgian ones, according to Mr. Markedonov.

“Initially, many “optimists” were inadequately estimating the Armenian-Turkish Protocols, but the countries have managed to achieve the maximum,” the expert said, adding that the most important thing is that the process has started, despite the influence of internal and external political factors.