by Burak Akinci
ANKARA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Armenia have launched a well-received reconciliation process to end decades-old hostilities in the South Caucasus, but their efforts are still fraught with hurdles, experts said.
The two neighboring nations who don't have diplomatic ties, mutually appointed special envoys recently as the first concrete step in reinstating ties. This is to be followed by the resumption of charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan.
Formal ties were severed in 1993, during the first war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, when Turkey closed the border with Armenia in support of Azerbaijan.
Turkey and Armenia made serious attempts to restore ties in 2008-2009, with American and Swiss intermediation, but the effort broke down due to mounting pressure from Azerbaijan.
In last year's war, Armenia lost control of the territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, which provided a new impetus to restore ties between the two countries.
Experts hailed both nations' desire to reconcile, but highlighting a thorny path ahead.
Ogul Tuna, a Turkish expert on South Caucasus at University of California of the U.S., told Xinhua "the current normalization process is welcomed and much needed for a peaceful, stable, secure, and prosperous environment in South Caucasus."
"In 2009, Ankara started a diplomatic initiation with Yerevan at the expense of a worsened relationship with Baku; while this time, the ongoing normalization efforts exist thanks to the Azerbaijani initiative and encouragement," he noted.
Reconciliation efforts comes at a time when Turkey's relations with the West are chilly over a string of issues, such as Ankara's purchase of Russian-made missiles. A deal with Armenia could improve ties with its Western allies.
Observers also noted that economic difficulties witnessed by both Ankara and Yerevan have pushed the two nations towards normalization, seeking mutual financial benefits. A deal would boost trade between the two with the establishment of regional corridors and roads in southern Caucasus.
A Turkish diplomatic source said to Xinhua that "we think that along the road, other issues will be discussed between the parties," and with the backing of powerbrokers such as Russia and the United States, "this new process would result in success."
Meanwhile, Tuna stressed that "despite the pacifist discourse and action from both governments, we cannot expect that the ongoing normalization process would erase all the problems and would not face any opposition."
Domestic opposition in both countries stands indeed as an impediment and parties have to break psychological barriers in the way to normalize ties.
"There are still significant hurdles on the practical and perceptual levels," Talha Kose, a researcher from the Ankara-based think-tank SETA (Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research), said.
"The normalization of Turkish-Armenian diplomatic relations is the right path to overcome decades of trouble. It will support a more comprehensive peace and stability in the entire region. The coordinated efforts of all the key stakeholders may help the dialogue," the expert said. Enditem
