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VISIT OF TURKISH PRESIDENT TO ARMENIA ENDS PEACEFULLY
Grace Annan
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 8, 2008
The visit of the Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia ended on a
good note (see Turkey - Armenia: 4 September 2008: ). Although no major
deals were struck, Gul and his counterpart, Armenian President Serge
Sarkissian, agreed to hold another meeting at the fringes of the UN
General Assembly meeting in late September. Gul stated that the visit
had given hope for the future, according to Agence-France-Presse (AFP),
while Turkish media stressed that his visit had not been overshadowed
by protests in Armenia.
Significance:Gul's visit is nothing short of a minor sensation;
the two countries did not have official diplomatic relations
until very recently, and have remained at odds over a number of
political issues. This was only a first visit and should be treated
carefully. The two countries are still not on good terms with
each other; indeed, winning over the nationalists in both Turkey
and Armenia will be a long and difficult road, testing the strength
and perseverance of both administrations. At this stage, Gul's visit
should be treated as nothing more than a tentative attempt to improve
ties with no guarantees for the future.
Grace Annan
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 8, 2008
The visit of the Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia ended on a
good note (see Turkey - Armenia: 4 September 2008: ). Although no major
deals were struck, Gul and his counterpart, Armenian President Serge
Sarkissian, agreed to hold another meeting at the fringes of the UN
General Assembly meeting in late September. Gul stated that the visit
had given hope for the future, according to Agence-France-Presse (AFP),
while Turkish media stressed that his visit had not been overshadowed
by protests in Armenia.
Significance:Gul's visit is nothing short of a minor sensation;
the two countries did not have official diplomatic relations
until very recently, and have remained at odds over a number of
political issues. This was only a first visit and should be treated
carefully. The two countries are still not on good terms with
each other; indeed, winning over the nationalists in both Turkey
and Armenia will be a long and difficult road, testing the strength
and perseverance of both administrations. At this stage, Gul's visit
should be treated as nothing more than a tentative attempt to improve
ties with no guarantees for the future.