The United States should promote the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations, National Defense University (USA) analyst, Colonel Richard Outzen, told Voice of America Armenian service.

As per Outzen, the US wishes to see a calming down of the strong feelings in the region, so that people will be able to resort to a freer, more creative and open diplomacy.

In the analyst’s words, however, the Armenian and the Turkish sides can show flexibility in their relations only under stable conditions, and the US can help in this very matter. 

Outzen stated that the US is unique in the sense that it is a country that is interested in the development of Armenia, and it has lasting cultural ties with this country as well as a large Armenian community, but at the same time, it has strong security ties with Turkey.

And according to analyst Joshua Walker of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the current political situation in Turkey and the possible early elections, however, do not leave room for any great expectations.

As per Walker, every time when there are elections in Turkey, nationalism and populism increases in this country, and therefore the criticism of minorities—including Armenians—becomes the easiest thing.

In the analyst’s view, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will attempt to exacerbate the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

According to Joshua Walker, Erdoğan’s sharp nationalist populism may impact the region, and convince the Azerbaijanis that they do not need to compromise with respect to the Karabakh conflict.