AZERBAIJANI MP: ARMENIA MISSED HISTORICAL CHANCE
Aydin Mirzazade

Today
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April 14 2010
Azerbaijan

How do you assess the outcome of the Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting? Can
it be considered success in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution?

This meeting was at the center of attention not only of societies of
the two countries, but also around the world. The question of opening
borders between Turkey and Armenia has long been a matter of debates
of heads of state and media. So, this meeting will reveal news details
in this matter.

During the Washington talks, Turkey has reiterated its principled
position on linkage between opening borders with Armenia and liberation
of occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Today, most of all, Armenia needs the borders opening. It has ended up
in isolation as a result of territorial claims to neighboring states.

It has closed borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey and experienced
certain problems with Georgia. In the meantime, open borders with Iran
do not give it direct access to Europe due to geopolitical situation
of Iran.

Armenia is a captive of its ideological and nationalistic prejudices.

Today Armenia’s politicy is identified with the policy once pursued by
the communist leaders of the Soviet Union where ideology was superior
to public or economic interests.

Therefore, I think, opening of Turkey’s borders with Armenia will be
postponed in view of Armenia’s refusal to withdarw from the Azerbaijani
territories and failure to respect international legal norms.

However, during the meeting that lasted an hour and a half, Erdogan
raised the issue of "genocide" recognition promoted by Armenia through
a number of parliaments of the world.

Armenia is more concerned with its ideological issues than a normal
nation-building. At that meeting, no agreement ad no concrete results
were reached, except that the foreign ministers of both countries
will periodically communicate.

But there is a result – Turkey remains committed to its previous
statements. Turkey demands respect for its territorial integrity and
solving historical issues by scientists, but not politicians.

Another result is that the world once again witnessed Armenia’s
uncivil policy both internal and external areans.

According to Turkish Foreign Minister, Karabakh was one of the key
issues debated during the Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting. In your opinion,
may this meeting influence settlement of the conflict?

I think that this was quite expected given Turkey’s principled position
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Of course, position of brotherly
Turkey will further influence the solution to this problem.

What is your assessment of the Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting in the context
of Armenian-Turkish relations? In your view, what further steps will
Armenia take to normalize relations with Turkey?

This was second such meeting in the last two years. The first meeting
between Erdogan and Sargsyan took place in 2008. I think that Armenia
has an opportunity to improve relations with its powerful neighbor,
and show commitment to international legal norms and to show that it
is seriously engaged in building its statehood seriously.

Unfortunately, Armenia missed its historical chance this time, too.

Following the meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Serzh Sargyan also
met with the Armenian Diaspora in the United States…

I would even say that Armenia rather reported to the Armenian
Diaspora. Everyone knows that the Armenian leadership is accountable
to the Armenian Diaspora, rather than to its people.

With regard to his statements, today the world does not act based
on statements or prejudice of any nationalist circles. There are
world standards, and they must be respected. If Armenia demands
Turkey to recognize what it did not commit, this is not a normal
political action.

In your opinion, what conclusions Armenia should draw from the
Sargsyan-Obama and Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting?

I guess Armenia has once again met with Turkey’s serious stance.

Armenia must draw a conclusion if it wants to have strong and
developing state. Armenia must respect its neighbors, give up
territorial claims to them and do what its people, but not Armenian
Diaspora, expects it to do. If Armenia fails to draw conclusions,
it will face more serious problems.