THERE IS A CHANCE OF BREAKTHROUGH IN THE KARABAKH ISSUE, EX-US ENVOY MATTHEW BRYZA SAYS
armradio.am
11.02.2012 14:27
"It's a huge mistake to explicitly say there is no connection at
all between Turkish-Armenian normalization and a settlement to the
Nagorno Karabakh problem. I always believed that the two issues will
help each other; as there is progress on the Turkish-Armenian front,
that will help create progress on Karabakh and progress on Nagorno
Karabakh will help normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia,"
ex-US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and former Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Hurriyet Daily News.
"The Turkish leadership realizes that by opening the border with
Armenia totally outside the context of Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey was
moving in a new direction because Turkey closed the border in the
context of the NK conflict. Azerbaijanis will never forget that.
Azerbaijanis have significant political influence in Turkey," he said.
Bryza said he believes there has been an evolution in Turkey's approach
to the Armenian genocide. "There has been a progression.
There is more acceptance of an open discussion of what happened. I
think the Hrant Dink murder was a huge awakening for millions of
Turks. It's not just the government, it's society that has moved
forward to consider that terrible killings were committed by Ottoman
troops. But what has not changed at all for legitimate reasons is
the firm Turkish view that this should not be recognized politically
as genocide."
Matthew Bryza says there is a chance of breakthrough in the Karabakh
issue. "There has been huge progress. The sides are extremely close to
a breakthrough. There are a couple of core, key details that can only
be agreed upon if the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan make a very
difficult and risky political decision. They would not do that until
they feel they receive political support from the U.S. and France."
From: A. Papazian
armradio.am
11.02.2012 14:27
"It's a huge mistake to explicitly say there is no connection at
all between Turkish-Armenian normalization and a settlement to the
Nagorno Karabakh problem. I always believed that the two issues will
help each other; as there is progress on the Turkish-Armenian front,
that will help create progress on Karabakh and progress on Nagorno
Karabakh will help normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia,"
ex-US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and former Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Hurriyet Daily News.
"The Turkish leadership realizes that by opening the border with
Armenia totally outside the context of Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey was
moving in a new direction because Turkey closed the border in the
context of the NK conflict. Azerbaijanis will never forget that.
Azerbaijanis have significant political influence in Turkey," he said.
Bryza said he believes there has been an evolution in Turkey's approach
to the Armenian genocide. "There has been a progression.
There is more acceptance of an open discussion of what happened. I
think the Hrant Dink murder was a huge awakening for millions of
Turks. It's not just the government, it's society that has moved
forward to consider that terrible killings were committed by Ottoman
troops. But what has not changed at all for legitimate reasons is
the firm Turkish view that this should not be recognized politically
as genocide."
Matthew Bryza says there is a chance of breakthrough in the Karabakh
issue. "There has been huge progress. The sides are extremely close to
a breakthrough. There are a couple of core, key details that can only
be agreed upon if the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan make a very
difficult and risky political decision. They would not do that until
they feel they receive political support from the U.S. and France."
From: A. Papazian