Policy Note / Dr. Burcu Gültekin Punsmann

Thinking about the Caucasus as a Land Bridge between Turkey and Russia

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Turks and Russians have never had such amicable contacts, never intermingled and cooperated so closely. The historical reconciliation process between Turkey and Russia should generate the same degree of enthusiasm as did the French - German reconciliation process. The main actors of the advanced many-faceted partnership promoted by the Russian and Turkish governments are indeed civilians, namely businessmen and tourists. The increasing interdependence and interactions are rapidly eliminating many of the remaining traces of enmity. The recent announcement that both countries can agree on a visa free regime by spring 2010 is a very good news.

*This note was published in Hürriyet Daily News on January 26, 2010.