President Abdullah Gul had watched the soccer game between Armenian and Turkish national teams in Turkey with Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, and two countries had made steps towards normalization of relations. The return game will be played in Bursa on October 14. Armenian diaspora is against establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia through ’football diplomacy’.
President Abdullah Gul had visited Armenia to watch the soccer game between Turkish and Armenian national games in Yerevan, and now attention of world media is on Armenia for the return game that will be played in Bursa on October 14.
Arrmenian politicians’ opinion is towards Serz Sarksyan’s visit to Turkey while politicians from Dashnak Party that represents Armenian diaspora in the World consider that Armenian administration should suspend the process of normalization with Turkey and Sarksyan should not go to Turkey. Dashnak Party officials demand resignation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian whom they see responsible for the process of normalization between Turkey and Armenia. Dashnaktsutyun had left the parliament to protest the roadmap agreement that is signed between Turkey and Armenia in the mediation of Switzerland.
Director of Organization for Integration with Europe Karen Bekaryan said, “Sarksyan’s visit to Turkey would show Armenia’s constructive attitude. Sarksyan should go to Turkey, forgetting about his statements about going to Turkey only if the state border between two countries are opened. Even the process of normalization is frozen since months, Armenia should be the one who ends it. I am sure that Turkey has a B plan.”
Turkey specialist Akop Chakryan said, “If Sarksyan does not go to Turkey because of lack of progress in the dialogue, Ankara would not be responsible for that anymore. If Sarksyan does not go to match, Turkey would tell the world, ’We did all we can, they are the ones who cop out.”
On the other hand, contradicting with the opinion of most of Armenian politicians, Armenia representative of Dashnak Party Kiro Manoyan said, “If Sarksyan is a man of his word, he will not go to Turkey on October 14. Expecting for state border between to countries to open would be foolish. Sarskyan would not be the side who steps back if he does not go to Turkey. Because according to the roadmap agreement Turkey should have opened borders. Turkey is the side which cops out. Armenian administration should announce that the process of normalization is undermined by Turkey.”
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