TURKISH MP: RESOLVING ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT WOULD BE A STEP TOWARDS OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER
Today
April 19 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
(Parliament) and Deputy Chairman of the Republican People’s Party
(RPP) of Turkey Onur Oymen.
Was RPP satisfied with outcomes of PM Erdogan’s U.S. trip in terms
of the normalization of the Turkey-Armenia relations?
To be frank, we are dissatisfied with outcomes of this visit because
both Prime Minister Erdogan and Armenian President Sargsyan in their
remarks noted that Zurich protocols remain in force. They stated that
they will try to continue the normalization process.
Maybe it looks normal from the standpoint of diplomacy. But this is
not normal from the perspective of Turkey. If Armenia does not want
to withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, if the Armenian
Constitutional Court does not accept the protocols in the form in which
they were signed and makes some changes to them in its own interest,
Turkey must take necessary steps to withdraw from the protocols.
When Turkey signed the protocols in Zurich, there were no comments by
the Constitutional Court of Armenia. These comments appeared later,
and there was no sign of Turkish officials. So, let them explain
about what protocols we are talking about.
About those signed in Zurich or those that have been changed
by Armenia? Changing the protocols, Armenia has practically
demonstrated disrespect for Turkey’s signature and violated the
agreement unilaterally.
These issues were discussed at the Erdogan-Obama meeting in Washington
a week ago. In your opinion, could the parties reach any results in
this issue?
Details of meetings with Obama remain secret. Surely, to avoid
confusion and misunderstanding among the public, officials refused
to elaborate on it. But we already know that the U.S. insists on
establishing relations with Armenia and opening of borders. Erdogan
certainly faced pressure in this matter during the meeting with Obama.
Regardless of how many times Prime Minister may say that Turkey
will open the border after occupation of Azerbaijani territories
is terminated, this argument does not suit Americans. Of course,
resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict would be a step towards
opening of Turkish-Armenian border.
We do not want eternal animosity with the neighbors. But if a neighbor
keeps territory of a neighboring and brotherly state under occupation,
we must react to it. As we see, Armenia does not even think about
leaving Azerbaijan territories.Armenians have persuaded themselves
that Karabakh is their land. At this stage, Turkey has done everything
possible to normalize relations while actions taken by the opposite
side are inadequate.
>>From your point of view, will Barack Obama utter the word "genocide"
on April 24?
Probably not. I think that he will make a traditional speech on the
events of 1915. Obama understands how this question is important for
Turkey. Washington saw Turkey’s harsh reaction to the move by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
Very serious processes are going on in our region at the moment.
America understands the role that Turkey can play in solving the
Middle East problem and, of course, in the Iranian issue. The U.S.
does not want to spoil relations with Turkey because of the "Armenian
genocide".
During the U.S visit, referring to "Armenian genocide" Sargsyan said
the "butchers of our people have left us no choice." He noted that
Armenia will never give up "genocide" claims. Did Turkey provide any
reaction to this statement?
Turkey’s officials should not sit at a table with a man who called
Turkish people executioners. The Armenian president must be careful
in his words if he wants to sit at the same table with Turkey’s
representatives. Turkey has heard insult towards it from Armenia on
many occasions, but have left them without response. Anyway, I think
that someday we need to put an end to this.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress