The president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said that Turkey is able to work gradually to normalise relations with Armenia, acknowledging, “There is a need for new, constructive approaches in our region”. Erdogan’s words appear to be a response to the prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, who announced last week that overcoming regional hostilities should be at the core of Armenia’s foreign policy agenda, and noted that in relations with Turkey, “we will respond to the positive signals with a positive signal”.
According to The Independent newspaper, speaking with journalists on an airplane to Turkey on Saturday evening (28 August) following visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, Erdogan stated:
“I wish the new government established in Armenia to be beneficial for the region. There is a need for new, constructive approaches in our region. Although there are differences of opinion and expectation, it would be a responsible course of action to make a sincere effort to develop good neighborly relations on the basis of trust, including respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Recent history should not be a source of hostility; Constructive steps should be taken for sustainable peace and coexistence. Instead of one-sided accusations, forward-looking, realistic approaches should prevail. We can work to gradually normalize our relations with an Armenian government that has declared its readiness to move in this direction.”
During the flight, the president also answered questions on the Turkish electoral system; the situation in Afghanistan and how it affects Turkey; and the purchase of a second package of S-400 missile systems from Russia, stating that Turkey had “no hesitation in these matters”, but he would consider everything again during his trip to Russia.