Armenians of Turkey impose hopes for the new Armenian-Turkish negotiation process, which started from the meeting in Moscow.
The Turkish newspaper Hürriyet talked with famous figures of the Armenian community of Istanbul about their expectations.
According to the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Saak Mashalyan, Armenians of Turkey are glad that Yerevan and Ankara are taking steps to normalize relations. He noted that in terms of investments and cultures, all steps aimed at establishing relations between two neighboring countries with a centuries-old history are very valuable.
“For Armenians, Istanbul is also extremely important that two societies will recognize each other to work together, to make investments. And in this context, the contact of two rich crops will contribute to improving relationships day relationship,” said Patriarch Mashalyan.
Chairman of the Istanbul Foundation “Karagözian”, Businessman Tigran Gulmesegil said Hürriyet that from now on Turkey should stretch Armenian hand to Armenia. He noted that attempts to normalize relations are positive phenomenon and “Turkey should treat Armenia as an older brother.”
The chief editor of the Istanbul bilingual weekly newspaper “AKOS” Edward Danzician with optimism looks at the resumption of direct air traffic between Armenia and Turkey. According to him, the opening of the borders and the establishment of diplomatic relations will be the first step towards normalization of relations. Next, relationships should expand even more.
Representative of minority funds, Physician Tauros Alzhan believes that the dialogue started between Armenia and Turkey is a positive, but late step. He considers it important that the parties are now adhere to friendly rhetoric, and hopes that the doors of the world will open instead of war.
In the same article, Hürriyet also asked for academic circles of Turkey, what they think about the Armenian-Turkish dialogue.
According to the famous Turkish historian Ilber Orthal, Turkey did not go to the dialogue with Armenia, given the problems for Azerbaijan.
“Now the situation has changed, and one of the obstacles to establish relations – the Karabakh question – disappeared,” he said.
Ortalie believes that this rapprochement is positive and gradually the relationship will improve.
Professor of Iydin and Sakarya, Aydin and Sakarya, Akhmed Kasim Khan and Nestin Alkan are also convinced that both sides will benefit from the normalization of relations.
But, according to Turkish professors, the opening of the borders and the establishment of diplomatic and economic relations need more to Armenia. Improving good neighborly relations, in their opinion, will also lead to the rapprochement of societies.