Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.30. / Trend E.Ostapenko /
Normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia will make Turkey a responsible regional player for European Union that will help it strengthen ties with Europe, and possibly help in the process of joining the Union, Deputy Director at Centre for European Reform (CER) in London, Katinka Barysch, said.
"Turkey's relations with Armenia do not have a direct impact on the EU accession process," Barysch wrote to Trend via e-mail. "If Turkey is seen as responsible and conciliatory, its relations with the West will become easier."
On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations" to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations. The protocol's final version will be signed by foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey, Ahmet Davudoglu and Edward Nalbandian on Oct.10 or Oct.11.
There are no diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia and the borders have been closed since 1993.
In addition to the so-called "Armenian genocide" in 1915, the Armenian territorial claim on Turkish lands of Eastern Anatolia is one of the main points of the Armenia - Turkey conflict.
According to Yerevan, about 1.5 million people become the victims of the events of 1915. However Ankara regards this number as overstated and insists that there was no genocide.
However, despite the long-term controversy, in April the two countries agreed on a "road map" normalization of the relations between them.
"The EU will acknowledge the moves to establish diplomatic and trade ties as a sign that Turkey is a responsible regional player - and therefore that its membership would contribute to the EU's objective to play a bigger role in the Caucasus and Black Sea regions," said Barysch engaged in research on the topic of Turkey and the EU expansion.
"For decades Turkey's foreign and internal politics has been dominated by a small number of issues (the Kurdish issue, Cyprus, Armenia) which have made it difficult sometimes for Turkey to focus on broader challenges," the analyst added.
By aiming to resolve, or at least alleviate, long-standing problems, Turkey gains room for manouvre to pursue broader objectives, to become a regional player and move closer to the EU.
Negotiations on Turkey's joining the EU have been continuing for several years. At present the talks at an impasse because of the unwillingness of many European countries, particularly France, to accept Turkey in the EU, which has the problem of human rights, but also because of Turkey's refusal to recognize Republic of Cyprus as the EU member and to open transport connections with it.
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