KARABAKH SOLUTION IN HOURS IF AZERBAIJAN RESPECTS SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT

HULIQ
April 5 2010
SC

The ongoing struggle in the relationship of Turkey and Armenia is
even gaining more momentum as the issue of Nagorno Karabakh, an
Armenian stronghold, is pushed into the forefront. Serzh Sargyan,
the president of Armenia, believes that the currently closed borders
of Turkey and Azerbaijan could be opened and the Karabakh problem
solved in hours if Azerbaijan would recognize the people’s right to
self-determination and freedom for the region.

Nagorno Karabakh is a small, landlocked region in the South Caucus,
encompassing over 3,000 square miles. It is a de facto independent
republic whose name derives from a Russian word meaning "highland"
and a Persian word meaning "black garden". The region has been under
dispute since Armenia and Azerbaijan gained their independence from
the Russian Empire in 1918.

However, internationally, the region is considered to belong Azerbaijan
despite being governed largely by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic of
Armenian majority. The conflict is similar to that of the ethnic
Albanians in Kosovo, who wanted freedom from Serbia due to religious
and cultural oppression.

As it stands now, relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia remain
incredibly strained. Azerbaijan has support from Turkey, which refuses
to recognize its part in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Azerbaijan
and Turkey share both language and religion (Turkish and Islam,
Armenia is Orthodox Christian). Turkey siding with Azerbaijan, has
closed its borders with Armenian, while aspiring to be a member of
the European Union. Now Turkey pushes for concessions from Armenian
on Nagorno Karabakh to reopen its borders with its neighbor.

In an interview with Der Spiegel, Serzh Sargsyan believes the
issue of opening borders should not be linked to the recognition
of Genocide on Turkey’s part. Rather, he believes, it is merely an
issue of giving Nagorno-Karabakh self-determination. Sargsyan said
"If Azerbaijan recognizes the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, I
believe the issue can be solved in a matter of hours. Unfortunately,
they still believe that they should bring Nagorno-Karabakh back,
while returning Nagorno-Karabakh back under the control of Azerbaijan
would mean that before long Nagorno-Karabakh will be rid of all its
Armenian population." Turkey, however, gauges progress by the ongoing
conflict itself and wants to see serious progress made in the conflict
resolution before normalizing relations with Armenia. In the meanwhile
recognition of Armenian genocide by various parliaments around the
world unnerves Turkey as it does not know how to cop with the darkest
pages of its history.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic still maintains a heavy Armenian
military presence, which Turkey and Azerbaijan feel does not help
matters. Armenia, conversely, believes the issue is rooted deeply in
the politics of oil rather than people’s rights.

While the European Union, USA and Russia push Turkey to remain
impartial in the matter, the 16 year + conflict shows a stalemate
of sorts among the three countries. The issue remains divisive and
border negotiations are often fraught with what seems to be a general
distrust and unwillingness to move forward without major concession.

For the Nagorno-Karabakh issue to be resolved and the right to
self-determination to be installed, it seems more incentives will
have to be put it place for talks to move forward.

Written by Lani Shadduck HULIQ.com