US analyst optimistic about Turkish-Armenian relations

Analysts from the US analytical centre RAND think that improvement of the relations between Armenia and Turkey will diminish Yerevan’s dependence on Moscow both economically and politically. A document analysing Turkish-Armenian relations says that Armenia could more deeply integrate with regional economic or energy projects if relations were improved, and this could simultaneously become a stimulus for Turkey to integrate with the EU.

The analysts think however that this process will produce a certain strain between Ankara and Baku. They say that the major stumbling block in the process of Turkish-Armenian rapprochement is the Turkish attempt to connect this with the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Furthermore, if the US Congress resolution about the Armenian genocide is passed this will significantly damage Ankara-Washington relations.