ARMENIAN ISSUE TO CONTINUE TO ‘TEST’ AZERBAIJAN-TURKISH TIES
news.az
May 5 2010
Azerbaijan
Musa Gasimli News.Az interviews doctor of history, Professor Musa
Gasimli.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit
Azerbaijan in May to sign an agreement on gas prices. What other
issues do you think will be covered during the visit?
Azerbaijan and Turkey are linked not only by oil and gas. The two
countries primarily maintain strategic, friendly and fraternal
relations. In this context, Erdogan’s visit to Baku will further
strengthen relations between the two countries, lend them a new
quality and promote discussion of a wider range of issues.
There are a number of issues that must be discussed between Turkey
and Azerbaijan. These include not only the issue of gas but also
strengthening the financial base between the countries ahead of the
construction of a railway between Turkey and Azerbaijan, ensuring
Nakhchivan is not blockaded and so on. All these are issues to be
discussed.
Until the Karabakh conflict is settled, further relations between
Turkey and Armenia will always be on the agenda. This will be a
test for relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The date 24 April
[marked by Armenians as "Genocide" Memorial Day] has already passed
this year, but it will come round again. Armenia does not liberate
the occupied Azerbaijani lands which means that the issue of opening
the border between Turkey and Armenia will repeatedly be put on the
agenda. Under pressure from different forces the borer issue may well
be repeatedly raised for discussion.
I think it will be positive to increase these official visits.
How realistic is ratification of the protocols between Turkey and
Armenia?
The Constitutional Court of Armenia has passed the protocols but
Turkey has not ratified them. At the same time, I do not think that
the ratification issue has been fully rooted out. It will be raised
from time to time, which may in turn influence relations between
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Therefore, Erdogan’s visit to Baku will play an important role,
as further cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan will be discussed.
What do you think of the current stage in the Karabakh conflict? What
separates us from a conflict settlement?
Though today Armenia has occupied part of Azerbaijani land, it has
failed diplomatically, as the regime that Armenia created in the
occupied lands has not gained international recognition. Second,
Armenia has failed to create normal living conditions in these
territories. This was a political mistake of the Armenian leadership.
In turn, Azerbaijan must also stick to its position, strengthen
diplomatic relations, boost the army and raise the morale of the
people. The occupation of Azerbaijani land does not meet our national
interests and creates additional problems for us.