TURKEY IN VIEW OF ITS BILIOUSNESS CAN’T BE A MEDIATOR IN KARABAKH ISSUE

YEREVAN, January 28 (Noyan Tapan). “Nagorno Karabakh was always the
Armenian territory. Other regions remain the problems of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan,” said RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan
Oskanian in his interview to the Turkish “Zaman” newspaper of January
25, whose translation was published in the “Azg” (“Nation”)
newspaper. According to the RA Foreign Minister, in the USSR times
Karabakh was included into the territory of Azerbaijan, but when the
war between Karabakh and Azerbaijan started, Armenian, naturally,
supported Karabakh. The issue of other regions, according to Oskanian,
is discussed between Armenia and Azerbaijan by the simple reason that
the Azeris avoid negotiations with Karabakh. Minister Oskanian
stressed that the statement of Prime Minister of Turkey Erdogan that
Armenia doesn’t recognize the Kars agreement was a surprise for
him. According to the Minister, none of the leaders of Armenia has
made statements on the occasion of this agreement up to day. “We are
among the countries-legal successors of the USSR. All the agreements
signed between the USSR and third countries remain valid until new
agreements are signed and the statement on the recognition of the
previous agreements as invalid is made,” he said. Presenting the
approach of the Armenian side to the condition on going out from the
“occupied territories” of Azerbaijan suggested by Turkey, Oskanian
mentioned that Turkey can’t reduce the Nagorno Karabakh problem
exclusively to the territorial argument, as the essence of the problem
is in status. “There were no Azeri territories controlled by the
Armenians before the Karabakh conflict. Control was set after the
raising of the Karabakh problem. The Turkish side is mistaken in the
issue of the cause-effect relation. It should be separated from the
reason for the elimination of consequence.” Hence, Turkey can’t raise
the issue of territories as a condition. “We want the problem to be
resolved, but we also want the universal approach to be shown.” Turkey
can’t be a mediator in the Karabakh problem because of its
biliousness, stressed the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs. For example,
Russia, according to Oskanian, doesn’t lay down conditions from the
viewpoint of the settlement of the problem and shows neutrality:
“Turkey constantly makes a suggestion on mediation, and we hold
bilateral meetings. From the viewpoint of these meetings we have no
problems, but mediation is another thing.” As for the recognition of
the Genocide, Minister Oskanian mentioned that there are no
territorial pretensions or the issue on compensation in the foreign
political agenda of Armenia: “We only long for the Genocide to be
recognized by the international community and Turkey. The 1915 events
are the evident Genocide. In spite of it Armenia has never demanded
that Turkey should recognize the Genocide with the purpose of the
regulation of relations. The issue may be resolved through a dialog,
but how to do it, if the diplomatic relations are absent?” Answering
the question: “Will Turkey recognize this statement (Genocide) for
joining the European Union?” Minister Oskanian mentioned: “We and
Turkey have two important problems: the Genocide and the opening of
the borders. The recognition of the Genocide is not a condition, but
the opening of the borders is a condition for the regulation of our
relations. Nobody can speak about the normal relations, when the
borders are closed. An on the contrary, without the recognition of the
Genocide it is possible to adjust the relations. We put the issue of
the borders to the EU agenda. It has already become an issue of the
agenda for the EU, and the Genocide is a common and moral issue. The
EU demands that Turkey should resign itself with this issue someway,”
said Oskanian. He also expressed hope hat these issues will be put
before Turkey at the end of this year, when the negotiations with the
European Union start. Nevertheless, according to him, “we can’t expect
progress during 10-15 years till Turkey joins the EU. We hope that
Turkey will open the border with Armenia soon.” According to Oskanian,
there is nothing more to be said on the issue of the Genocide. This
theme is studies, the great work is carried out, the real essence of
the 1915 events is shown. “Even if the scientists sit down at the one
table, the approved opinion will not change in any case. The
scientists have already done their part and completed it. At this
moment it is demanded that the Turkish government should get down to
business. Why are you afraid to discuss the issue of the Genocide?”