CARNEGIE CENTER EXPERT: OPENING OF TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDERS CANNOT DO WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS
R. Mehdiyev

Today
61466.html
Feb 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with expert at Moscow Branch of the Carnegie Center,
a known political analyst Alexei Malashenko.

Recently, the talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
were followed by the OSCE Minsk Group statement that the parties are
given two weeks to put forward proposals on the uncoordinated items
on the Madrid principles. Two weeks have already passed. But there is
no news in this respect. What did the statement mean, in your opinion?

It is difficult to say what these points of disagreement mean. I
personally suppose that after Sochi meeting Baku and Yerevan were
simply granted a respite. As the negotiations once again have reached
an impasse, the parties apparently are given more time to think. There
has always been stupor in the negotiations. I see nothing extravagant
about it. It is rather habitual.

How similar are positions of Turkey and Russia, regarding the extent
of their desire to promote settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

I believe that there is some degree of similarity between the positions
of these two states on this issue. But I doubt that now both Ankara
and Moscow really think that they will resolve everything in near
future. Simply, Turkey and Russia behave more actively in the ongoing
Karabakh process. Because they want to be further involved in the
negotiation process.

Lately Turkey has accused Armenia of actual breakdown in the
rapprochement process carried out based on the Zurich accords
specifically because Armenia’s Constitutional Court suddenly abandoned
the conditions to set up a joint commission to study the events of
1915. Does this mean that in this process has failed?

There were rather exaggerated terms, because they thought Armenian
will accept this item as Turkey was first to extend the helping hand.

However, Armenians turned out to be tougher. The Turkish-Armenian
normalization process is underway one way or another, it just moves
very slowly. I will run slowly in the future, too. Its outcome
will come soon after the gradual withdrawal of Armenian troops from
Azerbaijani territory.

But I am not referring to Nagorno-Karabakh, but adjacent districts.

This will happen sooner or later. This is real. And everything else,
the recognition or lack of recognition had been pending for a very
distant time.

Opening of Turkish-Armenian border cannot do without preconditions.

Withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories can be one of
them. Moreover, Turkey is tied with Azerbaijan one way or another. Of
course, some concessions are necessary. The question is when, how
and in what quantities, and in what form.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress