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FURY OVER, BITTERNESS LINGERS IN AZERBAIJAN
Hurriyet
April 20 2009
Turkey
BAKU - Turkey and Armenia have never before come so close to
normalizing bilateral relations, and, similarly, Turkey and Azerbaijan
have never come so close to rupturing theirs.
It is not just a coincidence that shortly after refusing to come to
Turkey to attend an international conference, Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev went to Moscow and called Russia "a strategic partner."
"If Turkey opens the borders with Armenia, what will be the difference
for us between Turkey and Russia or Turkey and Iran?" said Asim
Mollazade, the leader of the opposition Democratic Reform Party.
The news that Turkey was preparing to normalize its relations with
Armenia has sent shockwaves through the Azerbaijani society.
In reality, not a single Azerbaijani official has talked openly
about the government's discontent on the possibility of Turkey
normalizing its relations with Armenia without substantial progress
on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. But the press has been fiercely
criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and
everyone in Turkey knew that the media campaign was orchestrated by
the Aliyev administration.
"If the government does not want, there won't be any discussion. But
lately, there was discussion everywhere, in universities, in the
press. Everyone was talking against Turkey. There has been a campaign
that Turkey has betrayed Azerbaijan. The government was behind it,"
said Arastun Orujlu, the head of East-West Research Center.
But the government is not alone in its frustration vis a vis
Turkey. The opposition also shares the government's resentment toward
Turkey. "Opening the borders without a condition will be against the
interest of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Normalization with Armenia
without progress on Nagorno-Karabakh will damage bilateral relations,"
said Nesib Nesibli, a member of parliament from the opposition
Musavat Party.
"In Azerbaijan, anything else is black and white between the government
and the opposition. But on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and relations
with Turkey, they are united," said a foreign observer who asked to
remain anonymous.
Situation calmed but bitterness remains Although recent statements from
Turkish officials that the borders will not be opened before progress
is made on Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave under Armenian occupation,
seem to have calmed Azerbaijanis, the bitterness remains.
Turkey and Azerbaijan have cultural, linguistic and religious
affinity. Their close relations and cooperation are often expressed
by the motto "one nation, two states." Although Turkey recognized
the independence of Armenia after the demise of Soviet Union, it has
never established diplomatic relations because of Yerevan's efforts
to gain recognition of claims of genocide as well as its territorial
claims. Armenia does not recognize treaties signed under Soviet rule
that mark the borders in the Caucasus.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia when Armenia began its occupation
of Nagorno-Karabakh and the regions surrounding the enclave. Until
recently, Turkey tied normalizing its relations with Armenia to the
solution in Nagorno-Karabakh.
But over time this connection has weakened. Under the pressure
of several parliamentary decisions that recognize Armenia's
claims of genocide, Turkey has sought to normalize relations with
Armenia. Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to Armenia in September
was a turning point, as secret talks between the two countries that
had started before the visit gained new momentum. The two sides
are said to have reached an agreement upon a protocol that draws a
timetable for normalizing relations. But it has been unclear to what
degree a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been included
in the protocol.
Azerbaijanis have hard time understanding the benefit of opening the
borders without visible progress in their talks with Armenia. "There
is no reason to give such a gift to the Armenians at this stage,"
said Nesibli.
"Whatever the level of relations between Turkey and Armenia, the
Armenian diaspora will not stop its efforts for the recognition of
genocide claims all over the world," said Mollazade. "I will be the
first one to argue for the opening of the borders if I knew it would
be for the benefit of Turkey."
He dismissed claims that trade with Armenia would flourish as a result
of opening of the borders. "The trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan
is incomparable with the potential trade with Armenia," he said.
"Azerbaijan has been asked not to go to war with Armenia to get back
its land. But we have been waiting for the past 17 years. The only
peaceful way for us to convince the Armenians to release those lands
is Turkey," he added.
He also dismissed claims that improving relations between Turkey and
Armenia would lead to progress in Armenian-Azerbaijani talks. "Yerevan
was ready for talks. But after there were signs of a breakthrough
with Turkey, our negotiations started to drag on," he said.
An oil- and gas-producing country, Azerbaijan's economy has seen
steady growth since the late 1990s. It is one of the few countries
in the region not affected seriously by the global economic
crisis. Nagorno-Karabakh remains the only stumbling block in its
economic development and integration in the world political system.
"Nagorno-Karabakh is the No. 1 issue in this country. That's why
the public outcry about Turkey has been quite ubiquitous. There is
certainly a sense of being abandoned by the big brother," said a
foreign observer.
"I can't believe Turkey can do that," said Ennagi Ismailoglu, a taxi
driver, adding: "Our relations will be seriously damaged if Turkey
opens the border with Armenia."
Hurriyet
April 20 2009
Turkey
BAKU - Turkey and Armenia have never before come so close to
normalizing bilateral relations, and, similarly, Turkey and Azerbaijan
have never come so close to rupturing theirs.
It is not just a coincidence that shortly after refusing to come to
Turkey to attend an international conference, Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev went to Moscow and called Russia "a strategic partner."
"If Turkey opens the borders with Armenia, what will be the difference
for us between Turkey and Russia or Turkey and Iran?" said Asim
Mollazade, the leader of the opposition Democratic Reform Party.
The news that Turkey was preparing to normalize its relations with
Armenia has sent shockwaves through the Azerbaijani society.
In reality, not a single Azerbaijani official has talked openly
about the government's discontent on the possibility of Turkey
normalizing its relations with Armenia without substantial progress
on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. But the press has been fiercely
criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and
everyone in Turkey knew that the media campaign was orchestrated by
the Aliyev administration.
"If the government does not want, there won't be any discussion. But
lately, there was discussion everywhere, in universities, in the
press. Everyone was talking against Turkey. There has been a campaign
that Turkey has betrayed Azerbaijan. The government was behind it,"
said Arastun Orujlu, the head of East-West Research Center.
But the government is not alone in its frustration vis a vis
Turkey. The opposition also shares the government's resentment toward
Turkey. "Opening the borders without a condition will be against the
interest of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Normalization with Armenia
without progress on Nagorno-Karabakh will damage bilateral relations,"
said Nesib Nesibli, a member of parliament from the opposition
Musavat Party.
"In Azerbaijan, anything else is black and white between the government
and the opposition. But on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and relations
with Turkey, they are united," said a foreign observer who asked to
remain anonymous.
Situation calmed but bitterness remains Although recent statements from
Turkish officials that the borders will not be opened before progress
is made on Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave under Armenian occupation,
seem to have calmed Azerbaijanis, the bitterness remains.
Turkey and Azerbaijan have cultural, linguistic and religious
affinity. Their close relations and cooperation are often expressed
by the motto "one nation, two states." Although Turkey recognized
the independence of Armenia after the demise of Soviet Union, it has
never established diplomatic relations because of Yerevan's efforts
to gain recognition of claims of genocide as well as its territorial
claims. Armenia does not recognize treaties signed under Soviet rule
that mark the borders in the Caucasus.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia when Armenia began its occupation
of Nagorno-Karabakh and the regions surrounding the enclave. Until
recently, Turkey tied normalizing its relations with Armenia to the
solution in Nagorno-Karabakh.
But over time this connection has weakened. Under the pressure
of several parliamentary decisions that recognize Armenia's
claims of genocide, Turkey has sought to normalize relations with
Armenia. Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to Armenia in September
was a turning point, as secret talks between the two countries that
had started before the visit gained new momentum. The two sides
are said to have reached an agreement upon a protocol that draws a
timetable for normalizing relations. But it has been unclear to what
degree a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been included
in the protocol.
Azerbaijanis have hard time understanding the benefit of opening the
borders without visible progress in their talks with Armenia. "There
is no reason to give such a gift to the Armenians at this stage,"
said Nesibli.
"Whatever the level of relations between Turkey and Armenia, the
Armenian diaspora will not stop its efforts for the recognition of
genocide claims all over the world," said Mollazade. "I will be the
first one to argue for the opening of the borders if I knew it would
be for the benefit of Turkey."
He dismissed claims that trade with Armenia would flourish as a result
of opening of the borders. "The trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan
is incomparable with the potential trade with Armenia," he said.
"Azerbaijan has been asked not to go to war with Armenia to get back
its land. But we have been waiting for the past 17 years. The only
peaceful way for us to convince the Armenians to release those lands
is Turkey," he added.
He also dismissed claims that improving relations between Turkey and
Armenia would lead to progress in Armenian-Azerbaijani talks. "Yerevan
was ready for talks. But after there were signs of a breakthrough
with Turkey, our negotiations started to drag on," he said.
An oil- and gas-producing country, Azerbaijan's economy has seen
steady growth since the late 1990s. It is one of the few countries
in the region not affected seriously by the global economic
crisis. Nagorno-Karabakh remains the only stumbling block in its
economic development and integration in the world political system.
"Nagorno-Karabakh is the No. 1 issue in this country. That's why
the public outcry about Turkey has been quite ubiquitous. There is
certainly a sense of being abandoned by the big brother," said a
foreign observer.
"I can't believe Turkey can do that," said Ennagi Ismailoglu, a taxi
driver, adding: "Our relations will be seriously damaged if Turkey
opens the border with Armenia."