The role of non-governmental organizations in Turkish-Armenian relations

Abstract

The article will examine Turkish-Armenian relationp. In relations between the two countries, the results of the work of non-governmental organizations and NGO initiatives will be evaluated. The position of Turkiye between the two countries and the actions of Armenia in this direction are considered. Relations between Turkiye and Armenia have stalled in the past due to the Karabakh conflict and accusations of the Armenian Genocide. Turkiye continued to pursue a policy mainly supporting Azerbaijan in the Caucasup. The consequences of the negative events of the historical past in relation to Armenia continue to this day. Turkiye condemned Armenia in the Karabakh conflict and demanded that the Karabakh lands be returned to Azerbaijan. The unpleasant events of the past, which caused the cooling of bilateral relations, have not yet found an unambiguous solution. The closure of borders has also isolated relations between the two countriep. It was only through positive economic initiatives by NGOs that improvements were noted. Win-win NGO initiatives support the building of relationships that provide both good neighborliness and profit for both countriep. NGO initiatives, with their ups and downs, have sometimes produced good resultp. In general, the importance of the role of the neighboring country of Armenia in Turkiye’s foreign policy is debatable, but in order to continue the principle of good neighborliness, it would be beneficial to support the Armenian initiatives of NGOp. Thus, this would ensure the return of bilateral relations to normal.