TURKEY TO WAIT FOR POSITIVE CHANGES IN KARABAKH ISSUE

news.az
Dec 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Sinan Ogan Turkey is self-confident and it intends to wait for positive
changes in the Karabakh issue.

Turkey is self-confident and it intends to wait for positive changes in
the Karabakh issue, said Sinan Ogan, president of the Turkish center
of international relations and strategic analysis, in his interview
to Vestnik Kavkaza.

He said the Armenian side openly hoped for something new during
Erdogan’s meeting with US President Barack Obama. It expected the US
leader to put pressure on Turkey. "But the Turkish Premier was stiff
and he reiterated the provisions of opening border with Armenia while
Obama, in turn, did not insist on different opinion. I think this
is an important and, perhaps, the most crucial detail in Erdogan’s
negotiations in the United States. It can be said that Turkey is
self-confident and it intends to wait for the positive changes in
the Karabakh issue.

As for the recent initiative of the Armenian president about making
changes to the law on calling back the signature of his country under
the interstate documents, Ogan said: "This is not in favor of Armenia’s
image at the international arena. It has already formed an image of
not a consistent country. The initiated amendment to the legislation
further undermines trust to this country and not only to the words
but also to the signed documents. It means that Yerevan can turn back
in any minute. Now we are not able to trust to Armenia’s statements
and the agreements reached with this country"

The Turkish expert considers: "It is for Armenia to worry about terms.

It is not of special importance to Turkey when to open border
with Armenia. Ankara will just be watching over whether there are
positive changes in the Karabakh settlement that will naturally meet
Azerbaijan’s interests. When Armenia withdraws from at least five
"occupied Azerbaijani regions", the Turkish parliament may ratify
the protocols"