Turkish people mostly in pro-Azerbaijani mood, says Behlul Ozkan

Normalisation of Armenia-Turkey relations is largely linked to relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, such kind of view expressed today expert at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, political analyst and foreign policy specialist Behlul Ozkan, who is on a visit to Armenia.

He said that the situation in Armenia-Turkey relations can change only if there is a progress in the Karabakh talks.

“Turkey population’s majority is supporting position of Azerbaijan, and Turkey’s authorities can’t go against public’s opinion,” said Behlul Ozkan. “Besides, there is no Armenian lobby in Turkey, so the public’s opinion is being shaped by lobbyist of Azerbaijan.”

When asked by Aysor’s reporter, what position he would take if Armenia set out preconditions and demanded to recognize the Genocide, Ozkan said that his attitude towards it would be “surely, negative.”

Turkish expert said that the establishment of commission of historians within the framework of the protocol signed between the two countries “could cast light on controversial issues of those times.” He said: “Turkey is ready to discuss the issue.”

Behlul Ozkan said he regrets the decline in number of Armenian churches and Armenian population in Turkey. “I regret that the number of Armenians declined from 1 million to 60,000. Those Armenians who remain in Eastern Anatolia can be counted on fingers. Anatolia is a place of great cultural and religious value to Armenians,” he said.