"There are remaining obstacles to the normalization of ties between Ankara and Yerevan, including Turkey’s insistence that Armenia takes significant steps toward resolving its dispute with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and strong nationalist sentiment in both Turkey and Armenia", Mr.Cook added. According to the analyst, Turkey’s new multi-dimensional foreign policy has injected much needed vitality and creativity into Ankara’s approach to its immediate neighborhood.
"For example, Turkey’s recent agreement to normalize relations with Armenia is a revolutionary development in Turkish foreign policy (though details of the agreement remain unfinished).
All at once, the policy adds much needed stability to the southern Caucasus and reduces the likelihood that Congress will pass a non-binding resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide if it is reintroduced in April--a step that would only serve to delay Turkey’s own recognition of one of the twentieth century’s darkest moments".
Mr. Cook added that, still, Turkey’s proactive approach to Armenia should be encouraged.
Analyst also pointed out that another issue - Ankara’s relationship with Tehran is also troubling to Washington. It is important to recognize that Turkey receives 30 percent of its natural gas supply (most of the rest comes from Russia) from Iran and as a result, there is an economic imperative for good Turkish-Iranian relations.
"In addition, Turkey has maintained that because Iran is its neighbor, it supports a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear development."
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