"ZERKALO": EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT NOT TO INSIST ON RECOGNITION BY TURKEY
demaz.org, Azerbaijan
Oct 29 2007
Accordingly to Zahid Oruj, anyway demand relates to Yerevan not
Ankara ITAR-TASS informs that resolution adopted at the meeting of
European Parliament last week, contains call to Turks and Armenians
to start "reconciliation process". Thus, European parliament members
do not insist on obligatory recognition of "genocide of Armenians"
by Ankara any more. In 2005 when the matter concerned the start
of talks on Turkey’s gaining EU membership, European Parliament
expressed its wish that recognition of "genocide of Armenians"
to be preliminary condition for such entry. However this wish was
rather of recommendation nature, European Union never brought it
forward as condition. Last year European parliament members softened
their positions, and this year word "genocide" was removed from
resolution. Resolution reads that European Parliament again calls
on Turkey to make intensive and serious efforts to solve disputable
issues with all neighbors, to start open discussion on the passed
events. Resolution also reads that "European Parliament again urges
governments of Turkey and Armenia to start reconciliation process".
As one of functionaries of ruling Turkish party of justice and
development, Ersonmez Yarbay, said to our correspondent, Armenia
should stop occupation of Azerbaijani territories and recognize
Turkish frontiers. "Only after it any agreements between Turkey and
Armenia can be talked of", underlined Turkish politician. Following
E. Yarbay’s statement Turkey is not going to give up its previous
position concerning relations with Armenia and puts liberation of
occupied territories of Azerbaijan as condition for normalization of
relations between Turkey and Armenia. On commenting situation, deputy
of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan, deputy chairman of party "Ana Veten",
Zahid Oruj, declared for "Echo" that if EU really wants to partake
in improvement of relations between Turkey and Armenia it shouldn’t
put conditions before Turkey but it should do it before Armenia. As
Z. Oruj underscored that it is Armenia that deals with falsification
of history and talks with its neighbors in the language of terror,
ignoring international standards. "If Turkey opens its frontiers to
Armenia, establishing economical relations with this country it will
lead to enhancement of occupation ambitions of Armenia as Armenians’
mind is directed not to the future but to the past and this nation
is hostage of its history", deputy holds.
Accordingly to Z. Oruj, neither Turkey nor European Parliament are
capable to change this nation. Deputy specially underlined the fact
that one of basic directions of foreign policy of Turkey is relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The reason is we and Turks are one
nation. "If Turkey had followed different policy Azerbaijani nation
wouldn’t have taken it", Z. Oruj said. Chairman of "Ana Veten"
reminded history of Soviet Union: "Last century specially during
Stalin’s ruling, Armenia laid serious claims to Turkey. Then there
was no Garabagh problem". Z. Oruj doesn’t understand how Turkey can
agree to reconciliation and cooperation with this state. He holds
that European Parliament made its address to Turkey to prevent its
entry to EU. "I think Armenia should assume obligations not Turkey
despite the fact that it is not EU member state", such is deputy’s
position. Asked by our correspondent whether Azerbaijan should
demand from Armenia to give up claims to territory of Turkey if peace
agreement with Armenia is signed, Z. Oruj answered that "if one can
admit that fair peace agreement will be concluded between Azerbaijan
and Armenia then Azerbaijan should do its best to reflect Turkish
interests in this agreement".