RFE/RL: Armenian Relations with Turkey

Ahead of September’s Armenia-Turkey World Cup qualifying match, RFE/RL’s Max Liberty youth programme is reported by the Turkish Daily News to be lobbying for improved relations between the two neighboring countries. Certainly, increased momentum towards resolving the issue of a closed border has gained momentum in recent weeks.

Erik Gazharian, a member of the youth program at Radio Liberty (Azatutyun in Armenian) and an international relations expert, addressed Western countries and the Armenian Diaspora, saying: “Western countries manipulate the Armenian issue in line with their own interests and their interferences damage Armenia’s relations with Turkey. The Diaspora, on the other hand, should be well aware of the fact that Armenia is an independent republic. And Turkey should consider not the Diaspora but the Republic of Armenia as her addressee.”

“Gazharian was also critical of the Armenian genocide bill that would grant U.S. congressional recognition to the alleged genocide. “The states have been utilizing such a sensitive issue while also maintaining its own interests, which pushes Armenia into big difficulty, and Turkey unfortunately takes a negative attitude toward Armenia — not to America — because of such attempts,” he said, referring to the genocide resolution.”