Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 14 2008
Opening doors and hearts (2)
by DOGU ERGIL
President Abdullah Gül’s recent visit to Armenia was a necessity for a
variety of reasons, among them that Armenian-Turkish relations have
been poisoned by real and political feuds emanating from the dire
conditions of the war years in the second decade of the 20th century.
Large numbers of Armenians were uprooted on the grounds that they had
supported invading Russian troops. But punitive measures went way
beyond securing the eastern front, and massive deportations deprived
the Armenians of their homeland. In return THE Armenians built their
national identity on feelings of injustice and dehumanization, never
ending their grief and mourning since. One reason for the continuation
of the mourning is the lack of acknowledgement of the pain, sorrow and
loss of the Armenians by the children of the people who had placed
such a psychologically heavy burden on the Armenians without remorse
or the rational explanation of a mutual past that had been abruptly
terminated. Demand for acknowledgement and possible apology was the
precondition of the Armenians for initiating any positive engagement
between the two peoples and states.
It seems President Sarksyan and his government have lifted that
precondition, to be discussed later between the peoples when they get
to know each other better and have warmed relations through mutually
gainful cooperation. On the other hand there is a new situation in the
Caucasus where maps could change, following the armed conflict between
Russia and Georgia in early August. The need for a mechanism whereby
common security concerns can be discussed and cooperation in economy
and energy can be planned has become more obvious. There is also a
need for devising mechanisms of crisis management that will operate
with principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE).
Reciprocally, the Turkish president’s visit hints at an undeclared
change in the official Turkish attitude that has so far been shaped by
the Armenian occupation of a sizeable chunk of Azerbaijani territory
(including Nagorno-Karabakh), besides Armenia’s backing of its
diaspora’s efforts to win international recognition for Armenian
genocide claims and refusing to officially recognize its present
border with Turkey.
If indeed relations between the countries, which have had no
diplomatic ties for decades, advance with a future perspective
cleansed of past grievances and suspicions, this means both peoples
have the maturity to abandon preconditions to negotiate past
wrongdoings along with unrealistic expectations. This simply means
normalization and healing or simply moving out of the box of
symbolism.
People on the street expect that substantial negotiations will follow
on from Mr. Gül’s visit. Armenians want Turkey to reopen the rail link
with Armenia together with border gates to engage in trade. And the
Turks expect Armenia to stop lobbying foreign parliaments to recognize
their genocide claims. The first test will be a resolution that is
waiting on the floor of the US Congress.
Azerbaijanis are closely watching this unexpected development, but as
Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said, Azerbaijan will not
intervene and Azerbaijan supports Turkey’s proposal for a Caucasus
Stability and Cooperation Platform that includes both Azerbaijan and
Armenia.