Turkish journalist: without Karabakh conflict settlement for today it is impossible to normalize Armenian- Turkish relations
ArmInfo. Unfortunately, without normalization of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations is impossible for today. Turkish journalist Serdar Korucu told journalists on October 31 answering the question of ArmInfo about whether the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations is possible without stipulating this process with the Karabakh settlement.
"This position of the Turkish authorities, we all know that the Karabakh conflict is a matter between Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan, but given the close relations between Baku and Ankara, Turkey always emphasizes the importance of the settlement of the issue, moreover, it always leads as one from the factors of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, unfortunately, this is so, "the Turkish journalist said.
At the same time, Korucu thinks that the football diplomacy has opened up good opportunities for overcoming existing difficulties and normalizing relations between the two countries. "Unfortunately, this format does not work, but I believe that such steps should be continued at the official level, since contacts are very important for overcoming conflicts." Closed Doors do not solve questions, need to communicate, pursue a policy of rapprochement, and football diplomacy is one of the vivid examples of this, "said the journalist.
At the same time, Korucu expressed confidence, civil society can play an important role in the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, as it is already obvious that the political leadership of Turkey has done nothing and does not intend to do so. "There are serious political and historical problems between Armenia and Turkey, for example, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Genocide, and I think it is more important to establish a social rather than a political world." As experience shows, the political world is much more difficult to achieve, Moreover, I do not think that one day the Turkish society will wake up and say, "Yes, the Armenian Genocide happened, we recognize it and ask for forgiveness." This can not be, it is a process that must be permanent and have a logical z If you remember, there was a certain awakening in Turkey after the assassination of Hrant Dink (the editor of the Istanbul newspaper Agos-Red), people began to talk about this reality. Of course, it's not that no one in Turkey today knows about the Armenian Genocide, Many people know and speak about this, but knowing and accepting are different things, I am convinced that the time will come and, along with the recognition of the fact, there will be recognition, "the Turkish journalist said. According to him, there is another important circumstance in the relations between the two countries, namely that in Turkey no one wants to think that their grandfathers were murderers. "They want to hear that they lived in peace." Nobody really wants to be the grandson of the murderer, everyone wants to be the grandchildren of the heroes, the Turks find it very difficult to overcome all this, "Korucu stressed.
ArmInfo asked whether it is possible in the foreseeable future to expect recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey, the journalist noted that this issue is not among the priorities of Ankara today. "The government of Turkey today has more pressing issues, for example, the Syrian crisis, the situation in Iraq, and in this regard I believe that civil society can take some steps in this direction, unlike the government, for which, unfortunately, the Armenian issue does not the most important today, "Korucu said.