Armenian-Turkish relationship: A Sight from Europe

On November 27, 2008 a seminar-discussion on “Armenian-Turkish relationship: A Sight from Europe” took place in Vanadzor. The seminar was organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The goal of the meeting was to promote the regulation of Armenian-Turkish relationship, to find ways of regulating the conflict in South Caucasus.
  Dr. Wolfgang John, the South Caucasus program coordinator of Friedrich Naumann foundation Yasemin Pamuk, the representative of the research center of Berlin University, experts, representatives from NGOs, students, lecturers were present at the seminar.
The participants shared the opinion that Armenian-Turkish relationship shouldn’t be separated from other relations.
  The improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relationship is conditioned by the entry of Turkey to the European Union. Europe considers the regulation of this relationship as positive. Wolfgang John thinks that the following three main factors are important for regional development:
• stability
• free market relations
• democracy
The resolution of the Karabakh conflict should be an important precondition for opening the Armenian-Turkish borders.
  “ We are against military calls and we are for the solution of the conflict in a clever way - peacefully”,- mentioned Wolfgang John.
The economic, political, cultural situation in South Caucasus was presented during the seminar. Yasemin Pamuk mentioned that the regulation of good relations with neighbouring countries is an important criterion for becoming a member of the European Union.
  At the end of the discussion the guests asked their questions related to the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relationship from the viewpoint of democracy and human rights.