Europolitics , Belgium
October 13, 2009 Tuesday
RAPPROCHEMENT WITH YEREVAN A POINT IN ANKARA’S FAVOUR
by Fabrice Randoux
The EU has welcomed the historic agreements on normalisation of
relations between Turkey and Armenia, signed in Zurich on 10 October.
They provide for the establishment of diplomatic relations and the
reopening of the common border. The European Commission sees the
agreements as "a courageous step towards peace and stability in the
South Caucasus region". The signature "creates a new outlook for
dispute settlement, notably in Nagorno-Karabakh," commented External
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. After a six-year war
(1988 to 1994), Yerevan took control of this Armenian-populated
enclave in Azerbaijan, an ally of Turkey, which in 1993 sealed off its
border with Armenia in retaliation. "I urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to
intensify their efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement," added the
commissioner.
Relations between Turkey and Armenia have been poisoned for nearly a
century by memories of the massacres and deportations of Armenians in
1915-1917. Armenia claims there were more than one and a half million
deaths, while Turkey insists this number was closer to 300,000 or
500,000 and rejects the term genocide’.
Implementation of the agreements may take a long time. They have to be
ratified by both countries’ parliaments. The day after their
signature, which sparked protests from Azerbaijan, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tied opening of the common border to
progress on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. The question of recognition
of a genocide remains unsolved since the agreements do not mention the
term. They do, however, provide for the establishment of an
international commission of historians to study the subject.
This rapprochement will be added to the points in Turkey’s favour in
the annual report the Commission will transmit to Ankara, on 14
October. The Commission is also expected to welcome the greater rights
granted to the Kurdish minority and the adoption of laws limiting the
powers of military courts. It will denounce attacks on freedom of the
press, particularly the record fine of EUR1.75 billion imposed on
Dogan, the country’s leading press group. Ankara presents the fine as
payment of back taxes.
More generally, the Commission will criticise the slowdown of reforms,
the result of which has been the opening of only a single chapter in
the accession negotiations since the start of the year. It is not
expected to berate Ankara excessively for its continuing refusal to
open its ports and airports to Cyprus because the executive does not
want to hamper the talks on reunification of the island, which are
moving into a decisive phase. Commission President José Manuel Barroso
has just named an emissary to Cyprus, Austrian national Leopold
Maurer, to support the talks.