Armenian and Turkish intellectuals and businessmen participated in the “Turkey-Armenia Policy Discussions” event held in Istanbul. The list of participants also included media representatives and former civil servants from Armenia.

The participants noted that economic relations is a key to the improvement of Armenian-Turkish political and social ties, Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review reported.

However, Armenian intellectuals suppose that Turkey has to make some steps to improve relations. “If we do not face our histories and create common values, we will not be able to create a common future between the Armenian and Turkish societies,” said the former Armenian Ambassador to Syria Davit Hovhannisyan.

In his turn Noyan Soyak, the Turkey representative of the Armenian Industrial Businessmen’s Association stressed that the relations between the countries should be open, adding that many businessmen use “raw materials coming indirectly from Armenia, as they fear mentioning the fact openly because they risk an Azerbaijani boycott.”

The Armenian participants also planned to visit Turkish parliamentarians on Friday, the source says.