Armenia-Turkey: first steps made!

Turkish president Abdullah Gul visits Yerevan, meeting his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan. Accepting Armenian president’s invitation to visit Armenia for watching together the football match between the two countries, Abdullah Gul made a reciprocal spet towards normalizing of relations between Armenia and Turkey. The match ended two neal to Turkey. The two parts had a common dinner and discussed future steps aimed at rapprochement of two countries.

Abdullah Gul accepts his Armenian counterpart’s invitation to visit Armenia

Turkish Hurriet reports, Turkey president Abdullah Gul accepts his Armenian counterpart’s invitation to visit Armenia for watching together football match between the two countries on September 6th. The warming in relations of Armenia and Turkey signifies start of new age in the relations of two neighbouring countries.

In 1993 Turkey aiming at joining the Armenian region of Artsakh (Karabakh) to Azerbaijan while Artsakh according to results of referendum announced its joining Armenia, blocked the border. Since then diplomatic relations were broken and the border closed. The recent events have been this first warming in relations since the last 17 years.

Turkish chance in South Caucasus

Economist analyzes the recent events in Armenian Highland and South Caucasus, claiming Turkey has got a chance for reconciliation with Armenia and getting new opportunities in the region. The recent war in Georgia showed the vulnerability of Armenia blockaded by Turkey and Azerbaijan, while opening the borders may open new perspective for all the parts of the region:

“All of this should point in one direction,” says a Western diplomat in Yerevan: “peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” Reconciliation with Armenia would give Azerbaijan an alternative export route for its oil and Armenia the promise of a new lifeline via Turkey.

And again about the invitation of Armenian President Serze Sargsyan to Turkish counterpart to visit Armenia to watch together the football match between the two countries.

The biggest obstacle remains Azerbaijan and its allies in the Turkish army. Mr Erdogan was expected to try to square Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliev, in a visit to Baku this week. Should he fail, Mr Gul may not attend the football match—and a chance for reconciliation may be lost.

Armenia wins Turkey (2:1)

The match in Yerevan between the youth teams of Armenia and Turkey in qualifying round of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship ended with victory of Armenia. UEFA says it was a surprise for the favorite of the game Turkey.

The match between the primary teams of Armenia and Turkey will be held on September 6.