Ankara wasn’t able to accurately calculate the counteraction of Azerbaijan and reluctance to the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations, as a result of which it had to take a step back. Yesterday this was said by the head of the Freedom House European programs Sabina Fraser during her interview to the Voice of America. “Turkey was hoping to continue the relations with Armenia without considering the reaction of Azerbaijan but the Azerbaijani have showed a quite harsh counteraction. The foreign policy of Turkey wasn’t able to calculate this right and that’s why it has to recede now,” said Sabina Fraser by adding that the freezing of the ratification of the Armenia-Turkey protocols in the parliaments of Turkey and Armenia is greatly harming the normalization process between the two countries. In her opinion the ratification of the protocols is not possible in the nearest future. “The discussions regarding the constitutional changes in Turkey are complicating the process of ratifying the protocols. Besides that Prime Minister Erdogan stated that the protocols won’t be ratified as long as there is no progress in the NKR conflict resolution.” On the other hand Sabina Fraser expressed hope that despite the negative developments in the protocol process perhaps positive developments will be registered in the relations of the two countries. “At the moment we should leave the protocols alone and focus on possible scenarios, by for example giving priority to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia. I think it’s possible to do so. During the past 1.5 years the leaders of the two countries have met several times. And this can turn into real diplomatic relations. The recognition of the borders can also bring to this,” prompted Fraser.
