The German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (English literally Frankfurt General Newspaper), published an article on the Armenian-Turkish relations. The article specifically reads:

“A year ago, when the South Caucasus was shocked by a Georgian-Russian war, a process got under way in the region, which reached its climax in Zurich late this week. After months of secret negotiations through Swiss mediation, the Armenian and Turkish Foreign Minister signed two protocols last Saturday. The protocols provide for the formation of good-neighborly relations between the two states. In 1991, Turkey was among the first states to recognize Armenia’s independence. In 1993, as a result of an Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, Turkey closed its border with Armenia.

”Last Saturday, it was not clear until the last moment whether the protocols published early his September would be signed. U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Zurich to attend the signing ceremony. There were rumors that the Turkish side tried to mention Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions occupied by Armenia, which was not incorporated in the protocols. In this confrontation Turkey is defending Azerbaijan, while Russia is supporting Armenia, which found itself in an artificial blockade.

“In the regional context, Turkey’s foreign policy has taken a new course over the last few years — seeking to establish peaceful relations with all the neighbors. The normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations caused serious disagreements between Ankara and Baku. Before the protocols were signed, Turkey set preconditions related to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Now Azerbaijan threatens with a revision of its oil and gas policy to Turkey’s detriment.

”After the two countries’ Presidents met in Yerevan during a Turkey-Armenia football match, the Turkish Premier arrived in Baku to give assurances the Armenian-Turkish border would be reopened only after Armenia returned the occupied territories to Azerbaijan. After the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, failed to reach progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process last Thursday and Friday, last Saturday became the moment of truth for Turkey in its relations with Azerbaijan. According to RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s allusions, as well as the Armenian side’s information, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wanted to make a number of mentions of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem in his statement. Armenia objected, and the signing could have failed but for U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s mediation. Both sides agreed to refrain from any statements. According to observers, Armenia gained a diplomatic victory.

“It can be stated with confidence that Erdogan’s proponents in Turkey, as well as Sargsyan’s proponents in Armenia, will try to delay the ratification. The experience of Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan is evidence that struggle for power can lead to noteworthy political differentiation. Today he is criticizing the protocols, holding the opinion that the incumbent President is acting to the detriment of national interests. The ratification of protocols and reopening of the border will mean that Yerevan will not any more be dependent on Russia – neither economically nor politically.”