Moving Beyond Symbolism The Normalization of Turkish-Armenian Relations: a Window of Opportunity for Regional Prosperity?

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The signature of the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and the development of relations by the Turkish and the Armenian Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Zurich on 10 October 2009 concluded the two year long bilateral negotiations conducted under the Swiss mediation. The ministers of the Foreign Affairs of the United States, Russia and France, co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group established for the settlement of the Upper Karabakh conflict attended the signature ceremony. This first inter-governmental text ever signed between Turkey and Armenia since the Treaty of Kars of 13 October 1921, is likely to be a harbinger of winds of change in South Caucasus where the status quo characterized by conflicts divides, blockades and trade restrictions is far from being satisfactory.