According to the former foreign affairs minister of Armenia, chairman of the Civilitas foundation Vartan Oskanyan at this stage we should rely on the process of regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations, in which Armenia is involved. During the conversation with Radio Liberty, by commenting on the current negotiation process of regulation of relations between Turkey and Armenia Vartan Oskanyan said that all the presidents of Armneia Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan had an intention to normalize relations with Turkey. “Here we have only difference of approaches on what kind of tactics must be applied. This is where the difference of policies is seen,” said Oskanyan and added, “at this moment we should fully trust the process in which Armenia is involved. Let’s reckon that everything is done well and right.” According to him during the last decade Turkey due to its own policy has stood in front of a dilemma – the national interests of the country demand that it establishes diplomatic relations with Armenia and opens the Turkish-Armenian border. To this of course Azerbaijan shows its pressure. Moreover, in the opinion of Oskanyan Armenian cannot just wait in these conditions for the choice of Turkey because time doesn’t work on our behalf. “We may say let’s wait another 6 months, 1 year, 2 years but in conditions when there is the urgency to open borders, establish diplomatic relations we cannot just sit and wait and say that time will show,” stated Oskanyan by noting that “the ball is in Turkey’s field at this moment.” “Turkey must be able to overcome that dilemma and take necessary steps – either open the border or this process must be ceased by Armenia’s demand,” said the former foreign affairs minister.
