NEWS.am continues publication of comments on RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Turkey. We have already published opinion from Yerevan, Stepanakert (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Moscow. Today we present the viewpoint from Turkey: representatives of Turkish mass media and general public were interviewed.

Sarkis Seropyan, Editor of “Agos” bilingual daily Armenian version, published in Turkey, considers that Sargsyan’s visit won’t take place, as Turkish Government takes no steps towards normalization of relations. “Armenians of Turkey would undoubtedly cherish hopes for Sargsyan’s visit to at least better the mutual understanding and establish friendly relations between the two states, that between the nations,” Seropyan told NEWS.am.

Doğan Satmış, Executive Editor at Haberturk Daily, considers Sargsyan’s visit a real chance. “Yes, I consider the President’s visit to Turkey as a chance. Similar to our President Abdullah Gül's visit to Armenia, this one would also provide a dialogue that may improve our relationship to a warmer stage. I think, even if they consist of very different opinions, a dialogue can close the gaps between people,” Satmış told NEWS.am.

“In our relations, building walls between us doesn't help. When the barriers are removed, the communication gets easier, and empathy takes place. Our Armenian friends ought to also conceive this matter in that way. The contributions of the visit would be like as we have seen in Gül's visit, Sarkinyan's will also bring the issue to the agenda. Understanding mechanisms will start to work. Empathy will take place. If he does not come, it will continue as no different than today. Nobody's going to talk about the issue, and this doesn't help any of us,” Satmış concluded.

On the whole, opinion in Turkish media is that RA President should visit Turkey, as during Abdullah Gül’s visit to Armenia Sargsyan accepted the invitation to watch the football match in Turkey prevails. Turkish media hail as ‘unacceptable’ President Sargsyan’s statement (he will not visit Turkey unless the border is open) and consider it Armenia’s precondition. Turkish media deems Serzh Sargsyan should abstain from putting preconditions before Turkey as President Gül visited Armenia without doing so.

The public poll in Turkey conducted by NEWS.am correspondent showed people consider necessary RA President’s visit to Turkey without any preconditions. Meanwhile, population of Eastern Turkey makes the majority of those who back the idea of unblocking the border gates. Former Mayor of Kars has repeatedly addressed Ankara concerning opening of the border and has collected almost 50 000 signatures (Kars population totals to 70 thousand) in support of the idea. The Central and Western regions of Turkey are not much concerned about opening Armenian border. Some people prefer the border to be open after Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved.