An her interview with RFE/RL, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch sounded an optimistic note about the future of Turkish-Armenian relations, pointing to contacts between Turkish and Armenian civil societies and ordinary people that have increased dramatically in recent years.

According to her, the people in Turkey and Armenia understand that this is a historical anomaly that in the 21st century there is a closed border in Europe.

She pointed out that she has seen many Turks wishing to open up businesses in Armenia.

As regards the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Yovanovitch praised the hundreds of Turks who took to the streets of Istanbul on April 24 for the first-ever public remembrance of the up to 1.5 million Armenians massacred in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

“It's an extremely important development that needs to continue to be encouraged because sometimes it is the government that leads people and sometimes it’s people that lead the government,” she said.

Speaking of the Nagorno-Karabakh problems, the diplomat stressed its resolution will peace and stability to the region. As regards international pressure, Ambassador Yovanovitch does not think any state demands unilateral concessions from the sides at the expense of their national security. According to her, whatever agreements the side may reach within the OSCE Minsk Group or in any other format, they must take their national interests into account. On the other hand, she stressed the need for mutual concessions.

Ambassador Yovanovitch stressed the U.S. continues focusing its attention on democratic reforms in Armenia. The issues were discussed at the Sargsyan-Obama meeting in Washington. The diplomat also pointed out the U.S. expressed concern over the problems in this field in Armenia in the U.S. Department of State’s report. Referring to the recent amnesty, she said that the Armenian authorities made some progress, but the fact that some oppositionists remain in jail was “an issue of concern to us.”

T.P.