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May 18, 2009
Ankara Seeks Russian Support in Normalizing its Relations with Armenia
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 95
May 18, 2009 07:30 PM Age: 4 hrs
By: Emrullah Uslu
On May 16 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Moscow
and met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as part of
Ankara’s ongoing efforts to normalize its relations with Armenia.
Reportedly Putin and Erdogan discussed finding a sustainable solution
to the Karabakh issue as well as bilateral relations between Russia
and Turkey.
It appears that the process of Turkish-Armenian normalization might be
hijacked by nationalist rhetoric and the strategic interests of the
various international actors. While Erdogan attempted to secure
Russian support for Ankara’s policy of rapprochement with Armenia, the
Turkish authorities continue to link Turkish-Armenian relations to the
problems within the Armenian-Azerbaijan bilateral relationship.
A closer examination of the rhetoric used by both Turkey and Armenia
during the current normalization process, reveals that neither side
has addressed the "dark side" of their histories, which serves as an
obstacle to finding any lasting solution. Turkey insists that the
Karabakh issue must be considered as a component in this
normalization, since Ankara wants to prevent Armenia raising its
"genocide" claim -further complicating the process. In this sense,
Turkish officials emphasize that 40,000 Armenian citizens currently
illegally work in Turkey, in order to show that the state does not
harbor any hostility toward Armenians. Indeed, Erdogan further stated
that the illegal migrant Armenians working in Turkey could be
repatriated, however he did not consider such policies to be humane
(Milliyet, May 15).
Turkish political observers believe that the government’s position on
linking Karabakh with the normalization process might lead to eventual
stalemate. Moreover, they criticize Erdogan for reminding Yerevan
about the sensitive issue of illegal Armenian workers (Radikal, May
12; Taraf, May 18). However, Erdogan’s controversial remarks were well
received domestically by Turkish nationalists.
Armenia has actively tried to separate the Karabakh issue from its
policies toward Turkey, in order to avoid any Turkish effort to
utilize the "dark side of Armenian history" against Armenia. The
meeting between Erdogan and Putin exposed stark differences between
Turkey and Russia in their approaches toward finding a solution over
Karabakh. Turkey wants the international community, especially the
Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE), to be more active in finding a solution to the Karabakh
issue (Milliyet, May 12).
It appears that Turkey and the U.S. as well as the European countries
within the Minsk Group may be in broad agreement. Bernard Fassier, the
co-chairman of the Minsk Group arrived in Ankara on May 18 for a
series of meetings. Fassier also recently held talks in Azerbaijan and
Armenia, and will meet with the undersecretary of the Turkish ministry
of foreign affairs Ertugrul Apakan, during his visit to Ankara to
discuss the latest developments in the progress of the talks between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Fassier’s visit to Ankara underscores that
Turkey advocates the normalization of its relationship with Armenia
and the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia are separate, but
parallel processes (Anadolu Ajansi, May 16).
However, by contrast the Russian position clearly differs from that of
Turkey. After his talks with Erdogan, Putin stated at the press
conference: "our view in this issue is that the parties (Azerbaijan
and Armenia) should find a solution that both sides agree on, and the
states within the Minsk Group can only help easing the process, and if
necessary they may be the guarantor for the agreement"
(, May 17) .
In Moscow, Erdogan made it clear that Turkey will not re-open its
border with Armenia unless Yerevan agrees to find a solution with Baku
on Karabakh (Hurriyet, May 18). The Armenian government argues that
Karabakh and the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations are
separate issues. The Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan,
stated: "we expect Turkey to take further steps toward normalizing our
relations. Now it is time for Turkey to take these steps. I hope that
Azerbaijan will show the necessary political desire to solve the
Karabakh problem" (Taraf, May 18).
At this important stage in the process, it appears that by referring
to a bilateral agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Putin wants
to avoid any international pressure on Russia over the process.
However, by requesting that Turkey should take further steps, Yerevan
-perhaps with Russian guidance- might be attempting to portray Turkey
as being responsible for stalling the peace process.
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