Support for Armenia-Turkey rapprochement (SATR) project : mid-term evaluation report

Armenia and Turkey are neighbors that share hundreds of years of history of living together - as well as the last century of tensions. The border has been closed by Turkey for most of the 20 years of Armenian independence and the two countries have not established diplomatic relations. However, from a 10 year perspective there have been dramatic changes in Armenia-Turkey rapprochement - from almost no contact to significant civil society and business ties. Improved Armenia-Turkey relations are important to the United States Government in its efforts to support peace and stability in the Caucasus and the development of a strong democratic Armenia with economic and other engagement with her neighbors. But conditions are not propitious for a breakthrough in the status quo because there are few opportunities for a significant change in state-to-state relations. USAID thus needs a medium- to long-term perspective to support future rapprochement, as well as to provide support to keep the ideas and vision of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement alive and to build on growing concrete ties in civil society and businesses.