Kristine Melkonyan: Turkey tries to show it improves relations with Armenia only for propagating purposes

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: Turkey tries to show that it improves the relations with Armenia only for propagating purposes, employee of the Oriental Studies Institute of the National Academy of Sciences Kristine Melkonyan told Armenpress, adding that it is mainly connected with Turkey’s wish to affiliate with the European Union.

“The European Union has “frosted” the negotiations over affiliation with Turkey, so they try to show that they establish regular relations with neighbor countries,” the turkologist said. Referring to the steps directed toward recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey before April 24, Mrs. Melkonyan did not exclude that on April 24 – during some event dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, some high-ranking Turkish official will be present to show the artificial tolerance toward the Armenians.

“Taking into consideration that Turkey is on the threshold of elections, the ruling party of the country will possibly go to such a step for deserving the positive attitude of the Armenian community only for propagating purposes,” the turkologist noted. According to her, no matter how much strained is the inner political situation in Turkey, all the parties jointly deny the Armenian Genocide.