SECURITY IN THE CAUCASUS WILL BRING STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE REGION, TURKEY’S PRESIDENT SAYS
armradio.am
19.10.2009 15:22
In an interview with French magazine L’Express, President Abdullah
Gul said that if there was security in the Caucasus, there could be
stability, development and prosperity in the region.
Gul said there was no foreign pressure on Turkey to sign the protocols
with Armenia. "Our policy is to bring stability and security to the
region, maintain good relations with our neighbors, and solve problems
that were left on the shelf. Having said that, we are grateful to
those who helped us establish this process."
Instead of international pressure, Gul said the driving force behind
the singing of the protocol was to bring stability and development
to the region.
"If security is introduced to the Caucasus, there will also be
stability and, hence, development and prosperity. The Cold War is
over. Everyone wants to satisfy his own people and take the path of
cooperation," said Gul. "Dormant wars can heat up any time. We have
seen this happen between Russia and Georgia. Issues in the Caucasus
should be resolved."
Gul said the border between Turkey and Armenia would open once the
protocols are approved by each country’s parliament and signed by the
foreign ministers. He said the process foresees normalization in all
fields and the project for peace, cooperation, and stabilization in
the Caucasus also includes Armenia.
Gul said dwelling constantly on the recollection of past hostilities
would not allow for peace and cooperation. "If we lived constantly on
the recollection of past hostilities, never would France and Germany
have reconciled. And Europe would not have advanced toward unity as
it has today."
He said Turkey did not have its European Union accession bid in mind
in its relations with Armenia. "While conducting our policy vis-a-vis
Armenia, we absolutely do not have the European Union in mind,"
said Gul.