“Armenia favors Turkey’s bid to join the European Union because it might improve the prospects for overcoming the strained relations between Ankara and Yerevan,” said Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s prime minister during his interview to the British Financial Times. "I think it would be good for us if Turkey’s desire to become a member of the European Union were satisfied," Mr Sargsyan told the Financial Times. "Maybe the problems between us could find a solution within an EU framework." Sargsyan who is the early favorite to win Armenia’s presidential elections on February 19, said he hoped Turkey would produce proposals for improving ties with Armenia after the vote. Referring to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, he said: "I don’t think it’s correct to say he’s not committed to establishing relations with Armenia. We’ll see what happens in the future." Mr. Sargsyan, describing himself as optimistic that Armenia and Turkey would make progress, asked: "After all, what do we gain, what do the Turks gain, from the present situation? Even in the time of the cold war, when Armenia was part of the Soviet Union and Turkey was in NATO, we used to have a certain relationship with Turkey. "A railway line was built through Armenia to Turkey. A high-voltage electricity line was built between the two countries. Why should my wish for relations not be logical now?"
