Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
June 12 2005
Armenian FM: US Should Be More Active
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan urged the United States
(US) to become more involved in settling his country’s dispute with
Turkey, especially in persuading Turkey to reopen its border and
resume normal trade with its landlocked northern neighbor. Turkey was
one of the first states which recognized independent Armenia. However
when Armenian forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories
and claimed territories from Turkey, Ankara closed the territorial
borders while the air traffic has been free between Yerevan and
Istanbul.
“The United States is active in this, but we would like to see them
more engaged,” Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said Friday
after a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “I
believe the United States can be more assertive on the border matter.
Not other matters, but on the border.”
However Turkey urged the Armenians to withdraw from Azerbaijan. The
OSCE, the EU and the US named Armenian forces `occupier’ and
Azerbaijan is the only European country which 20 percent of its
territories are under occupation by another European state.
Ankara called Yerevan to set a joint commission to discuss the
disputes yet Yerevan rejected. Dr. Sedat Laciner from ISRO says
`Erdogan Government is really sincere in restoring relations with
Armenia.’:
`However Armenia has many pre-conditions. In fact the side in need is
Armenia. Armenia needs Turkey than Turkey needs Armenia. Both sides
can solve their problems if the Armenian diaspora does not involve
the problems. Armenia should be integrated into rest of the region.
Azerbaijani and Kazakh oil and gas will bring wealth to the region.
Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan are getting integrated. Similarly the
trade volume between Turkey and Russia is rocketing. Armenia should
also join the rapid development. Otherwise the fate of the second
Armenian State will be similar to the first one. Armenians and Turks
should make anything possible to survive Armenian State. If we cannot
survive Armenia, the Armenian nation will become more diaspora. In
another word, more radical and incurable.’