IT WAS VERY GOOD
By Fadime Ozkan

Turkish Press
May 15 2009

STAR- The clouds were dispersed in Baku and now the spring is in
the air. The resentment, which has occurred between Turkey and
Azerbaijan recently with a potential to turn in to a crisis, ended
with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Baku. We sounded
out Baku which had the idea that the meetings aimed at normalizing
Turkish-Armenian relations would result in opening the Armenian border
before Nagorno-Karabakh recovers from occupation. Before Erdogan’s
visit, Azerbaijan was very offended and feared that Turkey would
leave it alone.

All the people whom we spoke to expressed their love for Turkey. They
said that Turkey was the only country which understands Azerbaijan and
that when Armenia occupied their lands, Turkey has always been next
to them. They also said that we are brothers and that they consider
our prime minister as their prime minister as well. But they conclude
their sentences by saying that they hope Turkey wouldn’t disappoint
them. When we met with a couple of authors, Azeri-Turkish Women Society
Chairman Assoc. Prof. Tenzile Rustemhanli said that she wished that
problems between Ankara-Yerevan and Baku are solved, Armenia leaves
Azerbaijani lands and the peace prevails in the region. She added
that but the EU, US or Russia wouldn’t allow this.

The Azeri media, which has made the Azeri public’s sensitivity more
fragile based on the news covered by the Armenian media, approaches
the issue more fervently. Before the visit, all the people in Baku
have been holding their breath, watching the Turkish TV channels
and waiting for Erdogan to visit and tell them that he is next to
them. Erdogan said following his meeting with Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev that borders wouldn’t be opened, unless Armenia withdraws
from the lands it had occupied. So all of these people who were very
concerned started to smile.

Two statesmen gave the message to the people of these two friendly
countries that there is no problem and that we are and we will continue
to remain as two states and one nation. Aliyev said in Brussels that
Turkey was asking a simple question of whether Karabagh is covered by
the road map. Following his meeting with Erdogan, Aliyev gave a very
simple and clear answer to his question by saying that the remarks
made by his dear friend are the most valuable answer and that he was
very grateful to Erdogan. When I asked some Azeri friends how the
visit was paid by Erdogan, they said very clearly and simply that it
was very good.