Turkey initiated reconciliation with Armenia not due to benevolence towards the country, but because it is in Turkey’s interests, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told in Nov. 2 interview with Russian Vremya Novostey daily. According to him, this step is one of the first marks of Turkish new policy towards neighbors. Though the solution to the issue is of vital importance to Armenia, “the completion of the process is in Turkey’s interests.” The official expressed confidence concerning the final ratification of the Protocols, underlining impossibility of full guarantee of the issue.

“Normalization will give new opportunities that will positively impact on the security and regional economy,” he added. Commenting on the remark that Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakhi leaders nonetheless come to Moscow after each breakthrough in Armenian-Turkish process, Semneby replied that Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus are of no secret and “the country wishes to protect it.”

“The fact that Russia links its interests with progress in these complicated settlement processes, is a positive factor. If Russia plays active role in the issues’ settlement, we can do nothing but welcome it,” Semneby said, adding that Russia has significant economic interests in Armenia and diversification of the economy as well as increase of dynamics is also in Russia’s interests. “The major factor for the economic growth is border opening with Turkey.”

As to the further prospects on Armenia’s Euro-Atlantic integration after the problems’ solution with Turkey, Semneby underlined that Armenia also participates in the EU programs, such as European neighborhood and Eastern Partnership along with other states. He also informed that the talks on association membership with EU will commence shortly: “It will continue regardless the border opening.”