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WHY GUL'S INVITATION FROM YEREVAN IS NOT AN 'OPPORTUNITY'
By Elsever Salmanov
Today's Zaman
Aug 7 2008
Turkey
Azerbaijan is one of the most eager countries in seeking peace,
harmony and cooperation in international relations. Its commitment
to international law and the maintaining of good relations with other
countries despite being a victim is clear evidence of this.
International law recommends friendly relations between states and
bans hostile actions, recommending sanctions in the event of breaches
and violations. Azerbaijan has never been party to bad relations with
other countries. Quite the contrary, it has always favored and promoted
peace and cooperation among all countries in the world. Therefore,
in principle, Azerbaijan is not opposed to any probable rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia. The matter that bothers Azerbaijan is this:
respect for the inviolability of the borders of the state recognized
by the international community.
Turkey bases its decision to keep its border with Armenia closed
and not to establish diplomatic relations with this country on the
following factors: the failure of Armenia to officially recognize
the Kars agreement, which determined the border between the two
countries after Armenia gained independence, Armenian demands for
Turkish recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide in the Armenian
Declaration of Independence and Armenia's insistence on keeping 20
percent of Azerbaijan's territory under occupation.
Those who work to smooth relations between the two countries say there
are only a few who oppose normalization of these relations, all of
whom are well known and closely followed in Turkish and Azeri societies
because Armenia suffers from difficult economic conditions because of
its aggression and it is being excluded from regional projects for the
same reason. Despite this, it still maintains its aggressive stance,
by which it violates basic international legal rules, and it still
makes attempts to ensure that its aggressive policies are endorsed by
the international community. The latest example of this is the soccer
diplomacy that has occupied a central place in the recent agenda. The
newly elected Armenian president, Serzh Sarksyan, has invited Turkish
President Abdullah Gul to watch a 2010 World Cup qualification match
between the national teams of the two countries in Yerevan. Whether
Gul will accept the invitation is not clear.
Armenia needs to take positive steps
But if the Armenian side does not consider the reasons I mention
above for Turkey's decision not to improve its relations with Armenia
or if it fails to take positive and concrete steps toward this end,
it is most likely that President Gul will not accept the invitation,
because he is not an ordinary figure due to his position. Therefore,
none of his actions are simply and ordinary. Watching a soccer game
may be the act of an ordinary man. But if a president watches a soccer
game in a place other than his country, this may lead to different
diplomatic interpretations, particularly if the host country is known
for its aggression against your country and your allies.
Turkey is a big state. It is an actor in international
relations. Therefore, it should not be possible for a country like
Armenia to force it to give up on a policy or take any particular
step. Armenia's suggestion of opening the border between the
two countries and assigning a commission for investigation of the
alleged "genocide" without taking any concrete steps is nothing but
an attempt to get rid of the economic difficulties that the country
is currently facing.
>From the perspective of international relations perspective and that
of big powers and other neighboring countries, we reach the following
conclusion: The US is asking for the opening of the border gate between
Turkey and Armenia to alleviate Armenia's economic suffering because a
more economically stable Armenia will be resistant to Russian influence
and will maintain low-profile relations with Iran. Consequently,
the influence of Russia and Iran will be reduced in the region. The
reason for the Russia and Iran's eagerness to ensure the opening of
the border between Turkey and Armenia, on the other hand, is that in
such an event, Azerbaijan will lose on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,
because a more economically stable Armenia will adopt a harsher stance
in peace talks.
Russia and Iran are seeking to ensure that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
remains as it is now, because it is easier for them to interfere
with the region when there are problems. Moreover, the presence of
more than 30 million Azeris in Iran has always forced it to remain
cautious in its relations with Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Georgia
does not want improved relations between Turkey and Armenia because
Armenia would then be more comfortable in demanding territories
from Georgia. Therefore, when this conjecture is con sidered, a
rapprochement with Armenia without Turkey receiving strong guarantees
that Armenia will comply with international legal rules will be a
compromise and encourage a violator of international law. It would
not be an exaggeration to say that Turkey holds the key for justice in
the Caucasus region. Furthermore, the motives of those who so eagerly
seek the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia should
be investigated. I hold that it would be a mistake to compromise
Turkey's national interests for the sake of the appreciation of a
small Armenian population in Turkey and the probable economic benefits
of such a rapprochement. Moreover, concrete steps should be taken to
ensure the integration of the Armenians living in Turkey into Turkish
society. Otherwise, it is not suitable for Turkey to remind them of
their "homeland" every opportunity it gets.
Turkish-Armenian relations not a domestic issue
I think it would be useful to stress this point as well: It is wrong
to connect Turkish-Armenian relations with the domestic politics of
Turkey. It is wrong to hope that Turkey will improve its relations
with Armenia in an attempt to show that it is a democratic state
or to make recommendations toward this end after the murder of a
distinguished Armenian intellectual who was a Turkish citizen because
the Turkish administration does and did everything that needs to be
done by a democratic state. Therefore, those who hope that Turkey
will improve its relations with Armenia after dealing with gangs
and secret organizations and those who see improved relations with
Armenia as the extension of this legal process are simply wrong,
because this legal process is part of Turkey's internal affairs and the
institutions of the Turkish state have done everything that needs to
be done. Moreover, Turkey's insistence on receiving guarantees from
Armenia prior to improving its relations with this country because
of its own security interests and those of its allies is not an
isolationist foreign policy.
Therefore, Sarksyan's invitation to Gul to watch a soccer game in
Yerevan is not an opportunity for Turkey because the Armenian side
is currently dealing with economic difficulties and maintaining
its aggressive policies. Those who present this as an opportunity
are approaching the issue with a fait accompli view for different
reasons. If Turkey takes action or steps toward the improvement of
relations without making the Armenian side respect international
law, this violator of international law will be encouraged and start
demanding territory from Georgia. Furtherance of the issue may even
become an international precedent. It is obvious that the improvement
of Turkish-Armenian relations without ensuring Armenia's commitment
to international law will greatly damage Turkish-Azeri relations.
By Elsever Salmanov
Today's Zaman
Aug 7 2008
Turkey
Azerbaijan is one of the most eager countries in seeking peace,
harmony and cooperation in international relations. Its commitment
to international law and the maintaining of good relations with other
countries despite being a victim is clear evidence of this.
International law recommends friendly relations between states and
bans hostile actions, recommending sanctions in the event of breaches
and violations. Azerbaijan has never been party to bad relations with
other countries. Quite the contrary, it has always favored and promoted
peace and cooperation among all countries in the world. Therefore,
in principle, Azerbaijan is not opposed to any probable rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia. The matter that bothers Azerbaijan is this:
respect for the inviolability of the borders of the state recognized
by the international community.
Turkey bases its decision to keep its border with Armenia closed
and not to establish diplomatic relations with this country on the
following factors: the failure of Armenia to officially recognize
the Kars agreement, which determined the border between the two
countries after Armenia gained independence, Armenian demands for
Turkish recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide in the Armenian
Declaration of Independence and Armenia's insistence on keeping 20
percent of Azerbaijan's territory under occupation.
Those who work to smooth relations between the two countries say there
are only a few who oppose normalization of these relations, all of
whom are well known and closely followed in Turkish and Azeri societies
because Armenia suffers from difficult economic conditions because of
its aggression and it is being excluded from regional projects for the
same reason. Despite this, it still maintains its aggressive stance,
by which it violates basic international legal rules, and it still
makes attempts to ensure that its aggressive policies are endorsed by
the international community. The latest example of this is the soccer
diplomacy that has occupied a central place in the recent agenda. The
newly elected Armenian president, Serzh Sarksyan, has invited Turkish
President Abdullah Gul to watch a 2010 World Cup qualification match
between the national teams of the two countries in Yerevan. Whether
Gul will accept the invitation is not clear.
Armenia needs to take positive steps
But if the Armenian side does not consider the reasons I mention
above for Turkey's decision not to improve its relations with Armenia
or if it fails to take positive and concrete steps toward this end,
it is most likely that President Gul will not accept the invitation,
because he is not an ordinary figure due to his position. Therefore,
none of his actions are simply and ordinary. Watching a soccer game
may be the act of an ordinary man. But if a president watches a soccer
game in a place other than his country, this may lead to different
diplomatic interpretations, particularly if the host country is known
for its aggression against your country and your allies.
Turkey is a big state. It is an actor in international
relations. Therefore, it should not be possible for a country like
Armenia to force it to give up on a policy or take any particular
step. Armenia's suggestion of opening the border between the
two countries and assigning a commission for investigation of the
alleged "genocide" without taking any concrete steps is nothing but
an attempt to get rid of the economic difficulties that the country
is currently facing.
>From the perspective of international relations perspective and that
of big powers and other neighboring countries, we reach the following
conclusion: The US is asking for the opening of the border gate between
Turkey and Armenia to alleviate Armenia's economic suffering because a
more economically stable Armenia will be resistant to Russian influence
and will maintain low-profile relations with Iran. Consequently,
the influence of Russia and Iran will be reduced in the region. The
reason for the Russia and Iran's eagerness to ensure the opening of
the border between Turkey and Armenia, on the other hand, is that in
such an event, Azerbaijan will lose on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,
because a more economically stable Armenia will adopt a harsher stance
in peace talks.
Russia and Iran are seeking to ensure that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
remains as it is now, because it is easier for them to interfere
with the region when there are problems. Moreover, the presence of
more than 30 million Azeris in Iran has always forced it to remain
cautious in its relations with Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Georgia
does not want improved relations between Turkey and Armenia because
Armenia would then be more comfortable in demanding territories
from Georgia. Therefore, when this conjecture is con sidered, a
rapprochement with Armenia without Turkey receiving strong guarantees
that Armenia will comply with international legal rules will be a
compromise and encourage a violator of international law. It would
not be an exaggeration to say that Turkey holds the key for justice in
the Caucasus region. Furthermore, the motives of those who so eagerly
seek the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia should
be investigated. I hold that it would be a mistake to compromise
Turkey's national interests for the sake of the appreciation of a
small Armenian population in Turkey and the probable economic benefits
of such a rapprochement. Moreover, concrete steps should be taken to
ensure the integration of the Armenians living in Turkey into Turkish
society. Otherwise, it is not suitable for Turkey to remind them of
their "homeland" every opportunity it gets.
Turkish-Armenian relations not a domestic issue
I think it would be useful to stress this point as well: It is wrong
to connect Turkish-Armenian relations with the domestic politics of
Turkey. It is wrong to hope that Turkey will improve its relations
with Armenia in an attempt to show that it is a democratic state
or to make recommendations toward this end after the murder of a
distinguished Armenian intellectual who was a Turkish citizen because
the Turkish administration does and did everything that needs to be
done by a democratic state. Therefore, those who hope that Turkey
will improve its relations with Armenia after dealing with gangs
and secret organizations and those who see improved relations with
Armenia as the extension of this legal process are simply wrong,
because this legal process is part of Turkey's internal affairs and the
institutions of the Turkish state have done everything that needs to
be done. Moreover, Turkey's insistence on receiving guarantees from
Armenia prior to improving its relations with this country because
of its own security interests and those of its allies is not an
isolationist foreign policy.
Therefore, Sarksyan's invitation to Gul to watch a soccer game in
Yerevan is not an opportunity for Turkey because the Armenian side
is currently dealing with economic difficulties and maintaining
its aggressive policies. Those who present this as an opportunity
are approaching the issue with a fait accompli view for different
reasons. If Turkey takes action or steps toward the improvement of
relations without making the Armenian side respect international
law, this violator of international law will be encouraged and start
demanding territory from Georgia. Furtherance of the issue may even
become an international precedent. It is obvious that the improvement
of Turkish-Armenian relations without ensuring Armenia's commitment
to international law will greatly damage Turkish-Azeri relations.