Armenian-Turkish relations will not get normalized during the next five years, as Turkish parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2011, the expert in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan told NEWS.am. Even if the incumbent authorities win the elections, they will be busy forming a new government. Thereafter, parliamentary elections will be held in Armenia.

“However hard the United States pushes the issue forward for domestic political reasons, things will not get going,” he said.
“Turkey is well aware of the fact that, as the date is draws near, the Armenian side will actively discuss the ratification failed by Turkey. To prevent any accusations by the Armenian side, Turkey will initiate the opening of the Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island, as well as the reopening of the border on that occasion,” the expert said.

All the actions Turkey will take during the next year will be mere propaganda. Official Ankara will thus try to postpone the reopening of the border until more convenient time, Shakaryan said.

Different developments can be expected after the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process registers progress. “The Armenian-Turkish border will be reopened the day after the Nagorno-Karabakh process registers progress. Turkey’s main precondition, the one related to Nagorno-Karabakh, will be satisfied,” the expert said.