TURKISH MP: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REOPEN BORDERS AND ESTABLISH TIES WITH ARMENIA UNTIL NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS RESOLVED
Today.az
cs/59893.html
Jan 21 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with member of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly
(parliament), Deputy Chairman of ruling Justice and Development
Party’s parliamentary faction Mustafa Elitash.
The Armenian Constitutional Court decision declaring the
Turkish-Armenian protocols consistent with country’s laws once again
highlighted relationship between the two countries. What next steps
will Turkey take in this process?
The Armenian Constitutional Court decision can change something just
for Armenia itself. I think Turkey’s position in this process will not
change. The Turkish leadership has an obvious decision on this issue.
The prime minister announced this in the parliaments of Turkey and
Azerbaijan, as well as at international meetings. It is impossible
to reopen borders and establish ties with Armenia until the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved.
Turkey has given promise to Azerbaijan and its people. No agreement
will force it to backtrack. Turkey is very concerned about the fate
of Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.
These protocols were actually a gesture of good will by Turkey to
Armenia which must appreciate this gesture in its turn. Ankara has
announced that it can reopen border and establish relations with
Armenia helping the country to get out of the impasse once the Karabakh
problem is resolved.
Turkey can become the best platform for Armenia to access Western
markets. Decisions are made not in order to remain on paper. Turkey
has always been aware of responsibility of the documents signed. By
signing the protocols, Turkey has assumed great risk. The country’s
public opposes the signing of the protocols. But we have demonstrated
that we want to live not by history, but present day, in peace and
understanding. Now it is Armenia’s turn to take action.
Do you mean the Turkish parliament will not debate the protocols
until the Karabakh problem is solved?
Turkey’s position on this issue remains unchanged. Turkey will ratify
the protocols and begin to implement them only after decisive steps
are taken to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Even before the Zurich protocols were signed, the Turkish authorities
stated that if the reasons which led to closure of the border between
the two countries are not eliminated, implementation of the protocols
will be impossible. It all depends on further steps by Armenia. New
decisions adoption today should not ignore what was adopted yesterday.
On the contrary, we should take future steps analyzing the past. We
are advocates of the slogan "Yesterday’s the past, but today is
reality." But this does not mean ignoring the past. We just support
new approach to problems.
By signing these protocols, we demonstrated our good will to Armenia
and the whole world. But fraternal Azerbaijan, a victim of Armenian
aggression, should not suffer from our good will. We would like to
make the Caucasus a zone of peace and cooperation. Those who want
to join us should abandon their ambitions and think about how we can
live together in the future.
Armenians usually put up anti-Turkish campaign before April 24. Turkey
is expected to face increased international pressure in the light
of the decision adopted by the Armenian Constitutional Court. Will
Turkey be able to stand this pressure?
Turkey is a country in the region with its own word and weight. No
one can make it a tool in their games by exerting pressure. The
world has changed very much and it cannot force Turkey to accept what
is unacceptable.
Every year on April 24 Armenian claims of genocide reach their peak.
Every time they introduce April 24 as the deadline for Turkey. But
these ambitions cannot replace the truth. We will never accept a
campaign aimed at insulting good name of our ancestors and announcing
them murderers. This is a matter of honor for Turkey. We give a chance
to Armenia to identify the historical truth. The Turkish government
has proposed establishing a joint commission to investigate the events
of 1915. Our archives are open to all. But they prefer not facts,
but fictional stories.
How do you assess Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit
to Moscow?
It was a very important visit in terms of warming relations between
Turkey and Russia, boosting economic ties and solving energy problems.
I highly appreciate this visit.
Russia is one of the most influential countries in the world with
its own place and weight in international politics. Russia is also
an energy giant. Given the energy needs in the modern world, the
relationship with the world’s energy giant must always be at the
proper level. In recent years, many countries, especially European
ones, have experienced the "pleasures" of the cold winter. Turkey
is a country that consumes huge amounts of energy. Our country can
find common points with Russia and achieve a positive result from
such relations. Russia’s leaders also treat Turkey with understanding.
What are your views on Russian FM Lavrov’s statement that it is
"incorrect" to link resolution of the Karabakh problem with reopening
of the Turkey-Armenia border?
Russia is not one of the two sides, but a third party in this process.
We understand what concerns us and what not in such matters relating
to Turkey only. We must decide matters related to Turkey only
ourselves. Russia may remain committed to its opinion. I must say
that is not right to respond to Turkey’s good will this way.
I think Russia should help resolve the Karabakh problem as a country
with a huge impact on Armenia. Mediation mission in the Minsk Group
obliges Russia to do this. This is our problem whether the protocols
have something in common with the Karabakh conflict or not.