Nagorno Karabakh as a means to improve political image
Sometimes the Karabakh issue is discussed by those who cannot even
show this state on the map.
Everyone is busy `regulating’ the Karabakh conflict, which, as we have
previously mentioned, was settled still back in 1994. Sometimes it
seems that every politician who has at least the slightest relation to
the South Caucasus, considers it his duty to voice his views on the
settlement of the conflict. The other day `exhibited himself’ Georgian
Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, who declared that the situation in
the South Caucasus may explode at any moment.
May 21, 2010
PanARMENIAN.Net –
The Georgian diplomat believes that the region has a wonderful
experience of cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey,
implementing giant economic projects. `As an example can serve the two
working pipelines (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum); a
railway is being built, which will unite Georgia, Turkey and
Azerbaijan into a cohesive whole and will further link the Central
Asia with Europe. I do not mention the smaller projects. On the other
hand, the situation is very fragile as there are the occupied Georgian
territories: 20% of the Georgian land is occupied by Russia, 10% of
Georgian population have become refugees and forcedly displaced people
in their own homes. There is the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, i.e. the
problem of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. There is also the
problem of unsettled relations between Turkey and Armenia. Any of
these problems may at any moment blow up the situation in the region,’
the Georgian Foreign Minister said. Strangely enough, the Minister
forgot about 20% of the territory of fraternal Azerbaijan and about
one million refugees. Or perhaps he considered it unimportant to
mention? But be that as it may, for rather a long time Georgia has
been shying from side to side, unable to decide with whom it is more
profitable: with the Islamic or with the Christian world.
The conflict also attracts any officials that visit Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Their statements have become an ordinary mantra:
territorial integrity, peaceful settlement and right of people to
self-determination. Sometimes the Karabakh issue is discussed by those
who cannot even show this state on the map. And even if they can, they
definitely confuse it with Azerbaijan. Along with all the questions
that were called forth by an article published in the Turkish
newspaper Hurriyet about the alleged surrender of two regions to
Azerbaijan, there was 1 most important question – `why especially
Lachin and Kelbajar?’ One might as well have mentioned Agdam and
Fizuli, or any two other regions… The second question is why Turkey
so consistently indulges the Baku agitprop, perfectly knowing that the
latter is wrong by default. Islamic solidarity cannot be observed
here; rather, political dividends are taken into account. And if
tomorrow for the sake of improving her political image Ankara would
have to support Armenia, she would do it without a second thought.
For now, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement regarding
the anticipated parliamentary elections in the Republic of Artsakh.
`Official Ankara does not recognize the election to be held on May
23,’ the report says. Well, let it `not recognize’, so what? At long
last Baku will have to realize that the existence of NKR on the world
map does not at all depend on her recognizing or not recognizing this
republic. It is as unrealistic as the belief that one day Turkey may
become an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair. By the way, this is claimed not
by us, but by the Turkish side itself, which can hardly be counted
among the friends of Armenia. `Turkey will never become an OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair; it is just impossible. Armenia is opposed to it, and
consequently this issue is off the agenda. As for the statements of
the Turkish leadership on the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh, these are
simply political maneuvers, without which it is difficult to build up
one’s policy in the region,’ declared Mitat Celikpala, Associate
Professor of International Relations at the University of Economics
and Technology of Ankara (TOBB).
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News