FM DAVUTOGLU FACES HARSH CRITICISM OVER PROTOCOLS

Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 21 2009
Turkey

The reconciliation protocols are milestones that will help solve the
conflicts in the southern Caucasus, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
says during a special parliamentary session. ‘These documents will
shape history,’ he adds

The reconciliation protocols signed with Armenia will pave the way
for a comprehensive solution in the southern Caucasus, according to
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

"These documents will shape history," Davutoglu told parliamentarians
from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, who were
interrupting his remarks.

Davutoglu, the architect of the "zero problems with neighbors" policy,
said Turkey would be surrounded with stability and peace as a result
of its foreign policy. "Our main missions are to ensure security and
stability for everyone in the region, to solve the disputes through
dialog, to boost economic interdependence among neighbors and to
create mutual respect for cultural pluralism."

The status quo in the Caucasus is not consistent with Turkey’s vision,
Davutoglu said. "The frozen conflicts are like unexploded bombs in our
hands. We need to eradicate them one by one through peaceful means."

"The existing picture does not serve anybody’s interest in the region,"
he said in reference to the fact that Azerbaijan has been under
occupation for 17 years while Armenia’s economy has been worsening.

"We have to change the status quo in order to prevent further risks,"
Davutoglu said as critical voices from the opposition seats attempted
to drown him out.

Davutoglu continued, saying, "We aim at reconciliation between Turkish
and Armenian communities in the diaspora and at opening healthy
communication channels through the elimination of exploitation based
on historical sufferings."

The Turkish government has not changed it political mission to end the
Armenian occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Davutoglu said. "Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity is as important for Turkey as its own territorial
integrity. Turkey will continue to advocate [Azerbaijan’s rights]
at every diplomatic stage like it has done so over the last 17 years."

The minister said President Abdullah Gul brought the matter up during
his phone conversations with his Russian and U.S counterparts in
the last two days. "We will do our best to solve this dispute. We’re
well aware that any bilateral normalization is not realistic without
a comprehensive regional solution. We will open a road to solve
Karabakh in line with international law," he said, adding that the
peace negotiations between Baku and Yerevan have to step up as a
result of the reconciliation talks with Ankara."

The articles related to recognizing the country’s common border and
establishing a joint historical commission to investigate the events
of 1915 is not against Turkey’s position, Davutoglu said. Over the din
caused by the opposition parliamentarians, he said, "These documents
will shape the history."

Severe criticism by opposition MPs

Oktay Vural, a member of Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, accused
the government of obeying outside pressure and missing a strategic
opportunity when Armenia is cornered due to its worsening economy.

"From whom did we hear about opening the border with Armenia for the
first time? U.S President Barack Obama," he said.

Vural reminded everyone that President Gul had, in the past,
criticized the possibility of any negotiations with Armenia because
its constitution shows Kars within Armenian territory, asking,
"What has changed now?"

"The MHP will be against the reconciliation process and border opening
until Armenia shifts its hostile policies," Vural said, expressing
his party’s stance.

Selahattin DemirtaÅ~_, from the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party,
or DTP, sparked tension among the parliamentarians of the CHP and the
MHP. "Denial has been the way to deal with a tragedy in history. The
massacre against Armenians was not put into history books," DemirtaÅ~_
said, increasing the tension in the hall.

Stressing that governments have failed to prevent a historically
based anti-Armenian attitude that has dominated the country for over a
century, he said: "It is not easy to explain a reconciliation protocol
with Armenia under such conditions. We should begin by correcting."

Å~^ukru Elekdag, a retired ambassador from the CHP, criticized
the ambiguous language in the protocols, arguing that Turkey’s
interests were at risk. Elekdag also pointed out the strategic
alliance with Azerbaijan. "It would be an incomprehensible mistake
to lose Azerbaijan. It may worsen Turkey’s relations with all Turkic
republics across the world."

"There is no condition about Armenia changing its constitutional law
to recognize Turkey’s integrity. How can the government explain this
failure? Turkey has regretfully failed to use its advantages," he said.

Davutoglu rejects "any foreign influence or orders"

Davutoglu, in reply to the critics said, "No foreign influence
forced Turkey to take these steps," noting that "the diplomatic talks
were conducted secretly and started even before our government came
to power."

He described the flag crisis between Turkey and Azerbaijan as the
product of provocateurs and said, "Though others may say so, we will
not shift our policy [that aims] to bring stability to the Caucasus and
bolster the process to save Azerbaijani territories from occupation."