ERDOGAN MUST PERSUADE NOT ONLY THE OPPOSITION, BUT ALSO HIS PARTY MEMBERS: TURKISH COLUMNIST
Tert
Sept 18 2009
Armenia
Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet columnist Semih Idiz, in an article
published yesterday, attempted to compare Armenian and Turkish
positions in light of recent developments in Armenian-Turkish
relations.
Idiz states that ultra-nationalists in the two countries speak in the
same tongue: "we have given up on Nagorno-Karabakh" and "the document
includes only concessions for our country," Idiz says.
"This odd dichotomy — which indicates both nations carry similar
masochistic tendencies — is enough to show that hardliners in the two
countries are not concerned with the actual texts of the Protocols,"
he states.
Referring to developments in Turkey, the columnist states that
Erdogan’s government will try to persuade not only the opposition,
but also representatives of his own Justice and Development Party
that "this process with Armenia does not entail a sell-out, but is
advantageous for the two countries and the whole region."
Idiz also states that if the Protocols are not ratified by either of
the two parliaments, it will mean that ultra-nationalistic movement
representatives are "spoilers" of the negotiation process.
"Failure in this process will have dire consequences for the
two countries and the two nations, and will represent a historic
opportunity missed," Idiz concludes.