RIPPLE EFFECTS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

United Press International
April 23 2009

ANKARA, Turkey, April 23 (UPI) — Sweeping reforms in Ankara’s policy
toward Armenia and lingering disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh have
widespread implications for regional diplomacy.

Ankara moved toward normalizing relations with longtime foe Armenia
following a visit to Ankara by U.S. President Barack Obama. The
situation bodes well for Ankara’s ties to the European community but
could have a ripple effect on relations with oil-rich Azerbaijan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told officials during a recent
visit to Prague that Ankara was moving toward reaching out to its
counterparts in Yerevan, suggesting Turkey may open its borders in
time for a World Cup qualifying match in September.

Baku, however, may not look kindly on those developments, Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

War broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh
in the early 1990s, and the regional fallout from that row remains
tense despite a 1994 cease-fire.

Babacan said Ankara is working with Washington and other allies on
the situation as part of a broader push to settle regional tensions
in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian war in August.

"It has long been and remains the position of the United States that
normalization should take place without preconditions and within a
reasonable time frame," acting U.S. State Department spokesman Robert
Wood said.

Meanwhile, with Russia seeking to counter Ankara’s newfound diplomatic
strength, developments on the Nagorno-Karabakh front could have
sweeping ramifications on geopolitical dynamics.