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IF ARMENIA WANTS BORDERS OPEN, IT MUST LEARN TO PROPERLY SPEAK TO ITS NEIGHBORS: TURKISH DELEGATION TO PACE
Trend News Agency
04.10.08 16:31
Azerbaijan
France, Strasburg, 4 October /Trend News corr. A.Maharramli/ Exclusive
interview of Trend News with Ozlem Turkone, the member of Turkey's
delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), deputy chairman of the Foreign Relations Department of the
Turkish Justice & Development Party:
Question: Will the Caucasus Security & Stability Platform be able to
stand as alternative to the OSCE Minsk Group?
Answer: The platform is in no way an alternative or an obstacle to
the current systems, rules and relations. Tension is escalating in
Caucasus and the war that raged between Russia and Georgia can at
any moment cover other countries. If there is a possibility for
such war to break out, so Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia may top
the list of most damaged countries. We want the history to be given
a proper estimate. Europe has a plenty of values, such as unity,
justice, democracy and independence. Has Europe reached this all in
a single day? When did this take place? All this must be properly
estimated. The European Union is a pass leading from the end of
wars to reconciliation. If there are energy issues or other issues
standing in the basis of confrontation in Caucasus, so we will be able
to determine the common values and to find a way to bring them to a
high level, leaving aside many conflicts. Our task is to establish
a safer and more peaceful Caucasus in favor of the citizens of our
countries. The Caucasus Cooperation Platform suggested by Turkey at
the end of 90s of the last century was the result of the idea. We
must learn a lesson from the newest history. Then we will be able
like Europe to do without victims counted in millions and to create
a safer atmosphere in the region.
Question: What must the countries in the region do to implement the
Caucasus Security & Stability Platform?
Answer: Naturally, the platform will not interfere into the state
specificity of countries in the region. Our objective is not to
establish organization like the European Union. Only one thing is known
that we can solve these problems without military confrontation. At
least, we want to establish such a format. We speak about our
problems at the Council of Europe, the United Nations, whilst we -
border countries do not have such a format amongst ourselves. We have
problems. If anything like confrontation between Russia and Georgia
takes place again in South Caucasus, our nations will suffer, but
not Europe. We should make progress in this cooperation together and
achieve the purpose, because it is necessary for our citizens' future.
Question: What is your appraisal of the chances to implement the
Platform?
Answer: Naturally, there are some problems, which includes the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Armenian
'genocide' between Armenia and Turkey, Russia's attitude to Azerbaijan,
which is difficult to name as positive, as well as problem between
Georgia and Russia. On the other hand, we witness Russia's support to
Armenia in the issue of the Armenian 'genocide'. One factor should
be stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is an important
beginning. Each of us has common contiguities in the region. BTC did
not pass via the Armenian territory because of two reasons. First,
it would be injustice for fraternal Azerbaijan and the second reason
is incorrect position basing on claims, which are connected with
false Armenian 'genocide'. Therefore, it was decided to lengthen
the route of the pipeline. Armenia could not take advantage of the
project. Everybody should display reasonable approach in the Caucasus
Security & Stability Platform, forgetting feelings. Armenia should
leave Nagorno-Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. If
Armenia wants borders open for its nation, it must learn to properly
speak and cooperate with its neighbors. We can begin this process
and realize it on the base of dialogue. Perhaps, most of people may
approach to my speech as a dream, whilst everybody should remember
that dreams will come true, when we believe in them. If we look
over history of Europe from 1918 to 1945, we will not see anything,
but tears, bitterness and regret. However, Europeans could overcome
over all of them through dialogue and achieve the current level. I
want all countries, which have borders with Caucasus, to support
the Platform. I believe, if we hold dialogue now, we will be at a
different level in ten years.
Trend News Agency
04.10.08 16:31
Azerbaijan
France, Strasburg, 4 October /Trend News corr. A.Maharramli/ Exclusive
interview of Trend News with Ozlem Turkone, the member of Turkey's
delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), deputy chairman of the Foreign Relations Department of the
Turkish Justice & Development Party:
Question: Will the Caucasus Security & Stability Platform be able to
stand as alternative to the OSCE Minsk Group?
Answer: The platform is in no way an alternative or an obstacle to
the current systems, rules and relations. Tension is escalating in
Caucasus and the war that raged between Russia and Georgia can at
any moment cover other countries. If there is a possibility for
such war to break out, so Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia may top
the list of most damaged countries. We want the history to be given
a proper estimate. Europe has a plenty of values, such as unity,
justice, democracy and independence. Has Europe reached this all in
a single day? When did this take place? All this must be properly
estimated. The European Union is a pass leading from the end of
wars to reconciliation. If there are energy issues or other issues
standing in the basis of confrontation in Caucasus, so we will be able
to determine the common values and to find a way to bring them to a
high level, leaving aside many conflicts. Our task is to establish
a safer and more peaceful Caucasus in favor of the citizens of our
countries. The Caucasus Cooperation Platform suggested by Turkey at
the end of 90s of the last century was the result of the idea. We
must learn a lesson from the newest history. Then we will be able
like Europe to do without victims counted in millions and to create
a safer atmosphere in the region.
Question: What must the countries in the region do to implement the
Caucasus Security & Stability Platform?
Answer: Naturally, the platform will not interfere into the state
specificity of countries in the region. Our objective is not to
establish organization like the European Union. Only one thing is known
that we can solve these problems without military confrontation. At
least, we want to establish such a format. We speak about our
problems at the Council of Europe, the United Nations, whilst we -
border countries do not have such a format amongst ourselves. We have
problems. If anything like confrontation between Russia and Georgia
takes place again in South Caucasus, our nations will suffer, but
not Europe. We should make progress in this cooperation together and
achieve the purpose, because it is necessary for our citizens' future.
Question: What is your appraisal of the chances to implement the
Platform?
Answer: Naturally, there are some problems, which includes the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Armenian
'genocide' between Armenia and Turkey, Russia's attitude to Azerbaijan,
which is difficult to name as positive, as well as problem between
Georgia and Russia. On the other hand, we witness Russia's support to
Armenia in the issue of the Armenian 'genocide'. One factor should
be stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is an important
beginning. Each of us has common contiguities in the region. BTC did
not pass via the Armenian territory because of two reasons. First,
it would be injustice for fraternal Azerbaijan and the second reason
is incorrect position basing on claims, which are connected with
false Armenian 'genocide'. Therefore, it was decided to lengthen
the route of the pipeline. Armenia could not take advantage of the
project. Everybody should display reasonable approach in the Caucasus
Security & Stability Platform, forgetting feelings. Armenia should
leave Nagorno-Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. If
Armenia wants borders open for its nation, it must learn to properly
speak and cooperate with its neighbors. We can begin this process
and realize it on the base of dialogue. Perhaps, most of people may
approach to my speech as a dream, whilst everybody should remember
that dreams will come true, when we believe in them. If we look
over history of Europe from 1918 to 1945, we will not see anything,
but tears, bitterness and regret. However, Europeans could overcome
over all of them through dialogue and achieve the current level. I
want all countries, which have borders with Caucasus, to support
the Platform. I believe, if we hold dialogue now, we will be at a
different level in ten years.