From: "Katia M. Peltekian" <[email protected]>
Subject: BAKU: Immunity of Turkish Diplomacy Against Armenian Policy Weakens
TREND , Azerbaijan
Nov 28 2008
Immunity of Turkish Diplomacy Against Armenian Policy Weakens: Trend
News Commentator
28.11.08 12:44
Rufiz Hafizoglu, Editor of the Middle East desk of Trend News.
Relations between Armenia and Turkey comparatively have improved after
Serzh Sargsyan’s victory in the presidential elections. Unlike
previous Armenian government, which held radical and irreconcilable
position toward Turkey, the current government seeks to demonstrate
more moderate position.
However, Armenians’ territorial claim to Turkey and `genocide’ issue
prevented to restore relations between the countries. The Armenian
diplomacy, which admitted impossibility of their one-time abolition,
used Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s love of football, inviting him
to Yerevan to watch the Armenia-Turkey match. Turkey answered
positively and Gul was hospitably received in Armenia.
In fact, restoration of relations with Turkey is not connected to
Armenians’ refusal from historical claim, but focused on economic
revival of the country, which is in blockade, and its entry to the
world through Turkey. The latest developments in the region made
Yerevan restore relations with Ankara. Turkey has a ground to improve
and restore the Turkish-Armenian relations, as well. Liberal Islamists
replaced the nationalist government.
Armed conflict between Georgia and Ossetia has influenced on relations
between Yerevan and Tbilisi, and Armenia was in blockade by all sides
except Iran. However, pressure of the West on Iran put duration of
relations between Yerevan and Tehran under doubt. Armenia’s turning
toward Turkey has become the most reasonable way out of the situation
and revival of the death economy.
Sargsyan says: `The latest developments in Georgia have influenced on
economy of Armenia and as a result, a strong fuel crisis has aroused
in the country.’ The Armenian President’s speech creates grounds to
think that restoration of diplomatic relations with Turkey will enable
Yerevan to restore the declined economy.
The first stage of the Armenian diplomacy’s strategic plan `
Improvement the Turkish-Armenian relations ` has been successfully
fulfilled. Edward Nalbandian, the Armenian Foreign Minister visited
Istanbul on 24 November to participate in a conference of Foreign
Ministers of the Black Sea Cooperation Organization. The meeting
focused on discussions of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
problem, Turkish-Armenian relations, `Armenian genocide’, as well as
establishment of Caucasus Stability & Cooperation Platform, initiated
by Turkey.
Nalbandian’s Istanbul visit, where many interesting statements have
been sounded, entered the history.
Nalbandian positively answered Turkish Premier Receb Tayyib Erdogan’s
initiative jointly to study Armenian and Turkish archives to
investigate the 1915 developments.
The Armenian Minister regarded possible to establish a friendly
historical commission to investigate `Armenian genocide’, the Turkish
Zaman newspaper reported.
The statement by Nalbandian that the issue on recognition of the
`genocide’ was not included into the agenda of the meeting for
development of relations was particularly remembered
At the press-conference in Istanbul the Armenian minister said that
Armenia did not lay down any conditions for the development of
relations with Turkey. Nevertheless, the issue on recognition of the
`Armenian genocide’ is an integral part of the Armenian policy.
At first glance the appearance of Nalbandian creates visibility, that
the Armenians refused from the requirements to recognize
`genocide’. In actuality, thin nuances of Armenian policy lie behind
this statement. Armenians gave temporary agreement to two of three
basic requirements, advanced by Turkey for restoring the
relations. These requirements are – to decline the charges in
connection with `genocide’ of Armenians, end to advance territorial
claims to Turkey, return the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. Temporarily
send the officials of Armenia to a compromise only by two of three
advanced by Turkey requirements: in issues `Armenian genocide’ and
territorial claims to Turkey
In the interview to CNN the Armenian President said that despite of
neither Armenian official appeared with territorial claims towards
Turkey, there are organizations in Turkey, which contend that there is
no a state like Armenia.
Against the background of the recent developments Armenia has a
purpose, realisation of which it is unavoidable to approach. This is
the temporary fulfilling of two requirements, which have significant
meaning for Ankara, because of which the boundaries with Turkey will
be opened and the dead economy of Armenia will revive.
After the historical visit of Gul to Yerevan, the relations between
Armenia and Turkey develop rapidly. Ali Babacan, the Turkish Foreign
Minister, said after the meeting with Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbandian that the talks were held in a friendly and cordial
atmosphere and the discussions of political and technical issues
between the countries would be continued in the future. According to
Babacan, the goal of the talks is to completely normalize the
bilateral relations. For this purpose, the sides will hold meetings.
Nalbandian expressed certainty in efforts to be taken in the future to
improve the relations between the two countries.
And as `fruit’ of these negotiations between the ministers the Turkish
Turk Hava Yolları airline is about to open charter flights to
Yerevan
Given the aforementioned facts, that Turkish diplomats could not
withstand the Armenian policy any more, and the immunity of Turkish
policy against Armenia has weakened.