PARIS. – Though Turkey has not ratified the Protocols on establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia, it would like to find a way for it, researcher on Turkish politics, expert at French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) Dorothy Schmidt told Armenian News-NEWS.am commenting on the recent statement of the Turkish President Abdullah Gul regarding the Protocols. 

Gul has stated on Wednesday in London that the Protocols are not dead. However, relations between the two states cannot be normalized in short term. Armenian-Turkish relations are frozen as much as they cannot melt by one blow, Turkish President has said.

In response to the question whether the main prerequisite for the normalization of the relations is still the Karabakh conflict, Schmidt said that it is quite possible. However, it is necessary to remember that Turkish authorities would have liked to find means to adopt the Protocols. Normalization of the relations will improve the image of the Turkish diplomacy. There is a will for it, however it is not possible at the moment, Schmidt added.

According to her, currently "Arab spring" creates a difficult situation for the Turkish diplomacy in the context of "zero problems with neighbors” official policy. Difficulties mainly rise with Syria and Iran, which show dissatisfaction for the installment of the U.S. elements of anti-missile defense in the territory of Turkey. For the pristine image of the politics of "soft power" by Turkey, it should seek new equilibrium points. Thus, the revival of the issue of rapprochement with Armenia is quite natural, the expert concluded.