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BELGIUM (RFE/RL)–The normalization of
relations between Armenia and Turkey will foster closer
cooperation between NATO and Armenia and improve its image in
the ex-Soviet republic, an official from the U.S.-led alliance
said on Tuesday.
“I think that with the warming of Armenia’s
relations with Turkey, the alliance’s [cooperation]
opportunities in the country will increase, Zbigniew Rybacki, a
NATO liaison officer for the Caucasus, told a news conference in
Yerevan.
Rybacki argued that many Armenians still
mistrust NATO because of their pro-Russian sentiment and
Turkey’s membership in the alliance. “Certainly, the not-so-good
perception of the alliance within Armenian society has been
affected by the lack of relations between your country and
Turkey,” he said. “Turkey is a member of NATO and the Armenian
population, having this in mind, perceives the alliance through
relations or lack of relations with Turkey.”
“Therefore, I believe that as soon as you
establish diplomatic relations and open borders with Turkey, in
some time — it’s not going to happen very soon but in some time
— the perception of your population of the alliance will be much
better than now,” added Rybacki.
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