ABSENCE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS CANNOT IMPEDE OFFICIAL MEETINGS
By H. Chaqrian

Armenia-Turkey Relationships
AZG Armenian Daily #122,
29/06/2007

Insinuations about the Oskanian-Gul meeting in Istanbul, June 25, still
continue in the political circles of Turkey. Of all those the comments
of Armenian Studies Institute Director Omer Engin Lutem and reporter
Can Dundar, published in "Miliet" on June 28, are the most noteworthy.

In their articles both Lutem and Dundar clearly figure out their
position. Here we represent some of their most important statements.

Thus, Lutem writes, "Although Armenia is a member of BSEC, President
Robert Kocharian did not take part in the summit, and the Armenian
Foreign Minister explained it by absence of official dimplomatical
relations between the two states. If this was an impediment for an
official visit, why then did Oskanian arrive in Istanbul? Let us
remind by the way that in 1999 President Kocharian participated in
a OSCE summit, which was held in Istanbul. Kocharian’s absence on
such a meeting is caused by negative attitude both of the public
of Armenia and the Diaspora. Constant raising of the issues of
the alleged Armenian Genocide and of opening the border created
negative atmosphere about Turkey, wherefore the President of Armenia
preferred not to take part in the summit. In the meanwhile his
country has serious problems with Turkey. Although those problems can
be settled with talks, Armenia, being determined to settle them by
the means of pressure of the USA and the EU, is avoiding high-level
meetings with the Turkish side. Armenia has also serious problems with
Azerbaijan. Nevertheless those did not hinder Oskanian from advocating
the thesis of self-defense of the Armenians of Karabakh and efforts
to thus to justify the occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories".

Dundar also referred to Kocharian’s absence to the summit in Istanbul,
noting, "President Kocharian did not arrive at the summit organized
by heads of states but sent a message with the Foreign Minister. In
the morning of the day before the meeting we, a group of reporters,
met with Oskanian during the breakfast.

There are no news on the Armenian front. Moreover, it is likely that
the relations will be more complicated than they have been over the
last 3 or four years.

These circumstances can be explained by ’emotional’ reasons. Yearning
for being ‘One State and One Nation’, as well as the cooperation in
power engineering sphere with Azerbaijan, make Azerbaijani influence
on Turkey’s foreign policy stronger. We asked Oskanian what response
got in Armenia the ‘We-Are-All-Armenians’ slogans proclaimed on the
funeral of Hrant Dink. He answered that it was a great surprise
and that the Armenians were deeply moved and confused. Both the
sides have the same timidity, caused by lack of trust. The Armenians
should learn that in case of contesting a neighbor-state’s borders,
accusing it of perpetrating a ‘genocide’, occupying the territory of
its brother-state diplomatic relations can be hardly established. That
would require recognition of the present state borders and withdrawing
from Karabakh. In return, Turkey should open the border with Armenia,
as it did not close borers in spite of crisis with Greece and Bulgaria"