CALMING THE CAUCASUS – TURKISH INITIATIVES
By Ali Babacan

International Herald Tribune
September 23, 2008
France

The conflict between Russia and Georgia has once again demonstrated
the volatile character of the Caucasus and why it is so crucial for
the world to defuse tensions there.

This conflict has affected all the countries of the region. Azerbaijan
and Armenia, for example, were deprived of their main transport
routes. It raised concerns about prominent infrastructure projects
such as the railroad connection between Baku, Tbilisi and Kars, the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline, which promise to ensure the long-term energy and transport
security of the region and Europe.

As a neighbor to the conflict, Turkey has an enormous stake in
overcoming the tension between Russia and Georgia.

On behalf of the European Union, France has taken a very active role
in arranging a cease-fire, and President Nicolas Sarkozy’s laudable
efforts are fully supported by Turkey.

To re-establish peace and stability in the Caucasus in the longer run,
Turkey is also pursuing a series of diplomatic initiatives mainly
based on three pillars.

First, we have to recognize and address the profound lack of confidence
among the states of the region. Russia and Georgia are at war with
each other. The situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh is not much different. There
are also problems between Turkey and Armenia.

The lack of confidence in the region creates a fertile environment
for breeding instability, insecurity and, as we have seen in Georgia,
war. It also undermines political dialogue, economic cooperation and
good-neighborly relations that Caucasian countries need to prosper.

Furthermore, this tense situation has become more or less an
inherent feature of the Caucasus in the last 17 years, since none
of the previous attempts to resolve the protracted conflicts there
have yielded any constructive outcomes. This situation has to be
corrected quickly.

The Caucasus countries need to develop a functional method of finding
solutions to their problems from within.

Turkey’s proposal is to bring the countries of the region together
under the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform (CSCP).

In the interest of building confidence among these nations,
Turkey believes it is time to pursue a regional but comprehensive
approach. The CSCP, in that context, provides an opportunity.

It does not intend to become an alternative to any institution,
mechanism or any international organization that deals with the
problems of the Caucasus.

On the contrary, it is an additional platform to facilitate the
communication between the countries of the region, a framework to
develop stability, confidence and cooperation, a forum for dialogue.

In this context, it is not only compatible with Turkey’s EU policies
but it also complements the EU’s policies and vision toward the
Caucasus region, namely the EU Neighborhood Policy. This complementary
feature might bring a new impetus and a functional momentum to
the region.

Second, in order to become a genuine honest broker in the region,
Turkey has taken the initiative to create a favorable environment
for the normalization of its bilateral relations with Armenia.

President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6 to watch the World
Cup qualifier match between the Turkish and Armenian soccer teams. This
was an historic first step to break the barriers that have prevented
our two nations from getting closer to each other.

During the visit to Yerevan, the Armenian and Turkish presidents
extensively discussed the security situation in the Caucasus, the
prospects for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and
the ways and means to achieve such normalization in the nearest future.

I also accompanied Gul and had an opportunity to review the same
topics in a more expanded fashion with Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian. No doubt, as long as we talk, none of the problems
of the region could impose themselves on us as unsolvable.

Third, as the process of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations
moves ahead, we must not spare our efforts to find a resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. These two processes have a mutually
reinforcing character – any positive development on one would
significantly have a stimulating effect on the other.

Gul, after his visit to Yerevan, traveled to Baku on Sept. 10
to inquire whether Turkey could facilitate the resolution of
Nagorno-Karabakh problem. We observe the commitment in Baku, as well
as in Yerevan, to bring a lasting solution to the conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. In this context, it is necessary once more to
underline the importance of a constructive and comprehensive approach
to resolving the problems in the Caucasus region.

Turkey is a staunch advocate of the basic principles of international
law such as independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of
states as well as peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue.

With the initiatives that it has taken recently, Turkey seeks to
bring stability and prosperity to the Caucasus region. CSCP can play
a leading role in facilitating this outcome. A favorable environment
for cooperation, harmony, confidence and mutual understanding will
be achievable in the region only after the disputes and conflicts in
the Caucasus are resolved peacefully and irrevocably.

Ali Babacan is the foreign minister of Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress