The Fields of Divergence in Relations between Turkey and Armenia

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Armenian Republic gained its independence in 1991 and Turkey was one of the first countries that recognized Armenian independence after the collapse of the USSR. Since 1993, the Armenian borders with Turkey had been closed and the atmosphere of mistrust between the two countries remained strong. Only in 2009 the two countries tried to open their borders. Some Armenians have criticized the Turkish government for the closure of borders in some Western organizations and associations. Bearing in mind the importance of this issue, this study aims to answer this central question: What are the reasons for divergence in relations between Turkey and Armenia? The research hypothesis is that the tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Karabakh region is the main reason of divergence. Territorial claims of Armenians and the genocide issue can be the other obstacles in the normalization of relations between the two neighboring countries. This article reviews the occupation of Nagorno Karabakh impact on the relations between Armenia and Turkey. Then the role of Armenians outside of Armenia and the Armenian claims issue in bilateral relations have been discussed. At the end of the article, attempts for the normalization of relations between the two countries and signing of protocols are the objects of deliberation. This paper shows that in the current situation, there is no possibility of normalization of relations between the two countries.