Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

TDN: Gul Preparing To Go To Yerevan With Hopes Of Breakthrough In Fr

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • TDN: Gul Preparing To Go To Yerevan With Hopes Of Breakthrough In Fr

    TDN: GUL PREPARING TO GO TO YEREVAN WITH HOPES OF BREAKTHROUGH IN FROZEN RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    03.09.2008 19:21 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish President Abdullah Gul is preparing to go
    to Yerevan with hopes of a breakthrough in frozen relations with
    Armenia. The two countries have no official diplomatic ties, and
    whether the visit will open the way to a normalization of relations,
    depends on how the Turkish President is received in Yerevan, Barcin
    Yinanc writes in her article in the Turkish Daily News.

    "Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's invitation to watch the football
    game on Saturday was a gesture of good-will, rather than part of
    a careful strategy, in the eyes of Turkish officials. However,
    making a cost-benefit analysis of whether to go or not, is based on
    strategic interests rather than good-will alone, as far as Ankara is
    concerned. "Saying no would mean that Turkey is closed to dialogue. It
    would create the image that it cannot even tolerate an initiative
    based on a humanitarian framework like football," said a high-level
    Turkish official. The Turkish government also believes that Armenia
    wants to improve its relations with Turkey and seeks progress in
    secret direct-talks, initiated after Sargsyan's election as president
    last April.

    The recent tension in the Caucasus is an additional reason for
    Gul's likely acceptance of the invitation. The fact that Russia has
    increased its area of maneuverability in the region has prompted
    Turkey to propose a new regional mechanism; the Caucasian Stability
    and Co-operation Pact. With this initiative, Turkey believes that it
    assumes a role on an equal standing with Russia, which has become more
    and more assertive in the region. The absence of dialogue with Armenia
    would have dealt a serious blow to the credibility and efficiency of
    the initiative.

    But more importantly, the visit, if it takes place, might bring
    a significant change in Turkey's policy of isolating Armenia. The
    Turkish decision-makers seem to have come to the conclusion that
    isolating Armenia through exclusion from multi-regional co-operation
    schemes, like the energy corridors, has pushed Armenia into the hands
    of the Russians. In the recent course of events Turkey is keen to
    avoid polarization, with Russia and Armenia on one side, Turkey,
    Azerbaijan and Georgia on the other.

    The talks between the two presidents might change the course of
    relations between the two countries. If Gul goes to Yerevan, no
    doubt he will not just talk about the performance of the players
    during the game. Certainly he will first talk about Turkey's regional
    initiative. Next on the agenda will be the future of direct talks. The
    two might then also talk about the issue of Nargorno Karabakh

    "The visit to Yerevan should not be perceived as a change in our
    policy towards Nagorno Karabakh or Azerbaijan," said a Turkish
    official. Although Azerbaijan is not happy about the visit, it has
    nevertheless never told the Turkish side not to go, according to the
    same official," the article says.
Working...
X