TURKEY-ARMENIA DEAL TO BENEFIT AZERBAIJAN: EU ENVOY

AzerNews Weekly
Nov 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey-Armenia relations have reached a point beyond which there may be
a breakthrough, the European Union Special Representative for the South
Caucasus, Peter Semneby, has said, adding that the agreement recently
reached by Ankara and Yerevan would, in fact, benefit Azerbaijan.

Semneby welcomed what he described as ice-breaking in Turkey-Armenia
talks. He told Russia’s Kommersant newspaper that the anticipated
opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will be the first step toward
overcoming the abnormal situation in the region whereby three of
the lengthiest frontiers of the South Caucasus – the ones between
Turkey and Armenia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Russia and Georgia –
remain shut.

"This current situation is an obstacle to normal development of the
region," said Semneby.

After decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to
establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich
on October 10. However, the documents require ratification in both
countries’ parliaments. Moreover, Ankara has ruled out their approval
in the Grand National Assembly and the border opening before progress
is made in the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict that Azerbaijan,
Turkey, ally, faces with Armenia, which has been occupying a part of
Azerbaijan’s territory since the early 1990s.

According to Semneby, though a challenging situation has emerged with
the approval of the Turkey-Armenia protocols, this would comply with
both countries’ interests, as well as those of Azerbaijan.

"I am confident that in the long term, this also meets the interests
of Azerbaijan, because it is also interested in the opening of borders
in the region," the EU official said.

Semneby noted that the brief war fought by Russia and Georgia in August
2008 has shown that the South Caucasus states are vulnerable, and
this vulnerability could be eliminated only by solving the outstanding
problems. He also voiced confidence that Armenian leaders are of the
same opinion.

"The status quo on Garabagh does not meet Armenia’s interests, and
it cannot remain undefined forever," Semneby said.

According to him, mutual confidence should be strengthened in the
South Caucasus to surmount the challenges, which, in fact, requires
vigorous effort by third parties, such as the EU or Russia.

Semneby also said Russia’s recognition of Georgia’s rebel South
Ossetia and Abkhazia regions had set forth a precedent complicating
settlement of the Garabagh conflict.

"[But] the link between these conflicts should not be embellished.

Certainly, we deem Russia’s recognizing these territories as
problematic and unacceptable, and difficult discussions on the issue,
including those with Russia, are still ahead," Semneby said, adding
that the EU and Moscow share common priorities in other areas, and
differences over Georgia should not pose roadblocks to efforts aiming
to resolve other conflicts.*