Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations to have a positive effect on situation in South Caucasus, Steffen Elgersma says

Normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations will have a positive effect on the situation in the South Caucasus, Steffen Elgersma, Senior Expert, Euro- Atlantic Integration & Partnership, NATO HQ, said in Yerevan on November 9.

At the same time, he said that NATO cannot interfere in that process, because each country conducts its own policy. The Armenian-Turkish normalization was initiated by the United States and Switzerland, however, there has been no progress in the process, he said. The expert added that NATO cannot interfere in the Karabakh conflict settlement.      

To recall, the Armenian-Turkish protocols were signed in Zurich on October 10, 2009. However, the protocols were not ratified by the Parliaments of Armenia and Turkey, because Ankara was constantly laying down preconditions. On April 22, the process of ratification in the Armenian Parliament was frozen by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's decree. Afterwards, the protocols were withdrawn from the Armenian Parliament.