By Barney Yates
LOS ANGELES (News Blaze) — The following is a conversation between Barney Yates, an American journalist, and Nora Armani, an international actor, playwright and festival producer, about prospects for healing old wounds between Armenia and Turkey through the “soft diplomacy” of cultural exchange.
Q: There are ongoing negotiations toward protocols for opening the borders between Turkey and Armenia for the first time in a long time. Why has this peaceful development been so difficult to achieve?
A: Well, there are many unresolved issues between Armenians and Turks, the most important of which is the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Opening borders is a wonderful thing, as it is important for all nations under the sun to live peacefully with their neighbors and have normal exchanges on the economic, social and human levels. However, opening up the borders under the conditions Turkey is pushing for would not create the sort of peaceful atmosphere that is so desirable between neighboring countries. It would result in resentment and further mistrust.