news.am, Armenia
March 13 2010

Regular `April’ gesture from Ankara to Yerevan

15:36 / 03/12/2010By Arthur Hakobyan

Alarmed by Armenian Genocide resolutions adopted in U.S. and Sweden
and assuming that the process will continue Ankara restarted its
regular games on the threshold of April 24.

Turks remember that last year Ankara flagged up the world community by
idle talks, declaring of speedy border opening and normalization of
relations with Armenia. However, time told that after the joint
statement by Armenian and Turkish FMs on last April 22, all froze up
including Protocols to be initialed in August end.

However, after the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved H.
Res. 252, Turkey’s anger strangely spent itself fast. And again
referring to some anonymous diplomats, Turkish media started to assure
that Ankara does not link Genocide Resolution passed in the U.S. with
Armenia-Turkey relations. In this context, a statement somewhat
resembling a call to tolerance by Suat Kiniklioglu ‘ AK Party Deputy
Chairman and Spokesman of Foreign Affairs Committee made before
arrival to Yerevan is noteworthy. It outlined a necessity to sign
Armenia-Turkey Protocols emphasizing that Armenian Diaspora will
advance Genocide recognition campaign in any case.

Commenting on the issue, Turkish Sabah daily says that Turkish
diplomats attending the Protocols’ signing ceremony in Switzerland
call the phrase `Protocols are dead’ a romantic babble. According to
anonymous sources, no need to worry about the documents’ ratification,
as the process goes ahead by its own stream.

Meanwhile, Turkish Star notes that after Protocols’ ratification
having the Karabakh conflict settled, Turkey will offer construction
of Turkey-Armenia and Turkey-Armenia-Azerbaijan highway. The source
reports that Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation already
informed the RA Government about this. Thus, Turkey becoming a
conflicting party in Karabakh peace process has nothing short of
ambitious plans. `Turkey will offer to send troops to ensure security
of Lachin,’ Star reads, meantime forecasting terms Armenian contingent
withdrawal from Lachin and Kelbajar.

It’s time for Turkey to get that it cannot go on with deceiving
international community by obsolete and threadbare techniques. This
policy will assist even more the Armenian Genocide recognition
internationally by other countries’ parliaments.

A.G.