/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that he would attend the return match between the Armenian and Turkish football teams only in case the border was open or the sides agree on unblocking Armenia has a wide influence, Head of Turkish Centre for International Relations & Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM), Sinan Ogan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

 

“Will Turkey take any other steps after that statement? I don’t think. I think it is for two reasons.

 

The first reason: Mr. Sargsyan had invited Abdullah Gul to Yerevan for the football match and Turkish President Abdullah Gul went to Yerevan without any precondition. This was a good will step to solve the problems between two states. I have to underline that this decision was a “risky decision” for Mr. Gul’s political career. However Mr. Gul took that risk and went to Yerevan. Now conditions are same, Mr. Gul invites Mr. Sargsyan for a football match. Therefore Turkey will never accept any precondition.

 

The second reason is about Azerbaijan and NKR issue. As you know a “road map” was signed between Turkey and Armenia which was not declared to public. The aim of this step was normalization of bilateral relations. The public response was great both on Turkey and Azerbaijan sides to this process. Turkish and Azerbaijan publics are against furthering relations without solving Nogorno Karabakh problem. Justice and Development Party (AKP) is aware of this reaction. So if Nagorno Karabakh issue has not progressed until the match, Turkey is not expected to do any further initiatives,” TURKSAM Head concluded.