Turkey has lately made two steps to create illusions for the international community: the crossing of the Armenian-Turkish border by the leader of the Strong Turkey Party (GTP) Tuna Bekleviç and his associates, as well as Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s interview with the Limes Italian magazine, Stepan Safaryan, Chairman of the Heritage parliamentary faction, told journalists Oct. 15.

In his interview, President Gul stated Armenia and Turkey are allegedly maintaining confidential diplomatic contacts. In this case, at a political level, Turkey is showing its interest in Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. In its turn, the GTP, at the public level, addressed a message saying that 1,000 young Turks and 1,000 young Armenians will cross the Armenian-Turkish border unless it has been reopened within a year. “That is they re creating the illusion that the Turkish society is day and night thinking of establishing good neighborly relations with Armenia. This is a most important messages perceived by the West in the following context: why is not the process progressing if the two societies are concerned with it?” Safaryan said.

According to him, Gul is addressing powerful messages to Washington and Brussels, saying he is ready for negotiations. “This time the international community will state the public and authorities in the person of the President are interested in Armenian-Turkish rapprochement process and ‘let us not spoil this atmosphere’. Of course, official Yerevan will be more cautious about it, and the Armenian Foreign Minister stated that no steps will be taken until Turkey is ready to resume Armenian-Turkish rapprochement without any preconditions concerning Nagorno-Karabakh,” Safaryan said.

According to him, the current situation is ambiguous. No forecasts can be made about whether the international community believes the Armenian side or takes the Turkish side’s latest steps into account. “But if the Armenian side still hopes its constructive policy will play a great role, and the international community will appreciate the one with civilized and constructive positions, I have to disappoint you – it will not happen,” the Armenian MP said.