German pro-Armenian Intervention on Caucasus Possible?
By Can Karpat, AIA Turkish section
Axis Information and Analysis (AIA)
22.06.2005
It is argued that Germany that has recently taken a decision about
“Armenian massacre in 1915”, actually is prepared to intervene through
that way in Caucasian affairs in the future. This last decision of
the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) must be seen as a new German
policy, which consists to be present in Caucasus along with other major
political powers, Turkish Cumhuriyet reports. As pressure upon Baku
government intensifies, the German radio “Voice of Germany” insists
that Karabakh Armenians should be allowed to leave Azerbaijan. To that
extent, the new decision about “Armenian massacre in 1915” in favour
of Armenians is to be interpreted as a step further for Germany in
Caucasus. Especially, in a time that an eventual government change
is discussed in Azerbaijan, these initiatives prove that Germany is
willing to take part in the reconstruction process in this region.
While the United States of America declared that a special military
unit is to be formed to protect the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline,
the strategic importance of Caucasus is increasing. The claims that
Germany turns day by day in favour of the Karabakh Armenians’ zeal
to part from Azerbaijan become therefore interesting. Last Sunday
Parliament elections in Karabakh took place breaking with Azeri laws,
and aftermath a regional government was formed. And on the “Voice
of Germany”, the “rights of separating” of Karabakh Armenians from
Azerbaijan, which is officially demanded by this new government,
have been publicly uttered.
It is argued that all this evolution shows that Germany, in this
regional dispersion period does not want to be out of the game.
According to some international observers, the decision taken
by all political parties existing in the German Parliament about
“Armenian massacre” in 1915 along with other statements about “the
importance of peace efforts between Turks and Armenians” and about
the German responsibility in “this historical crime”, all these form
the background for Germany to take part in Caucasian affairs in near
future. Thus, Germany plans to be the third power in the region along
with the United States of America and Russia. As in the Balkans and
Eastern Europe, whether Berlin is intended to influence once again
regional affairs in Karabakh is therefore highly discussed.
In March 1999, German Professor Otto Luchterhandt from Hamburg
University had made a speech in American University in Yerevan, and
defended that Karabakh should determine its own fate, that Armenians in
this region should separate from Azerbaijan and set up an independent
state. That he also stated that “Armenians could reach that target
playing on time factor” had provoked discussions at that time.
Last month, the German Orient Institute in Hamburg published a
research, where it is argued that the Karabakh issue should be resolved
according to the American policy. The same report emphasised that
only hereby intense relations between Armenia and Russia would have
been broken. The report reminded that among the Armenian opposition,
number of American supporters increased considerably, and stated that
Armenia is at a crossroad to choose either Russia or the United States
of America.
Furthermore, the European Union’s Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn
stated that Turkey must open its frontiers to Armenia, and defended
that if frontiers is opened that would be in favour of Turkey. Rehn
also stated that “Armenian issue is a very important one”, and
claimed that Turkish officials have problems to deal with “historical
facts”. He confirmed that if Turkey signs six legal regulations and
the supplement protocol mentioned in the 17th December decisions,
there will be no reason not to start the European Union membership
negotiations with this country on the 3rd of October. Though,
he reminded that the negotiations will be an open process, so the
membership should not be taken for granted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress