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RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN EXPOSES NEW CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
News.am
11:41 / 08/19/2009
In a statement released on August 14, the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs responded to recent statement made by Dirdctor of the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) Richard
Giragosian. Giragosian was quoted by the Armenian media as saying that
a "secret agreement" between Turkey and Russia was signed granting
Russia access through Turkish airspace to resupply Russian miliotary
base #102 in the northern Armenian city of Gyumri. The report was also
widely disseminated, as the Azerbaijani "Trend" news agency printed
a statement on August 15 released by the Turkish Embassy in Baku that
refuted the "information about arms shipments to the Russian military
base in Armenia via Turkish airspace." The Turkish Embassy in Baku
released an official statement to the Azerbaijani media claiming that
"such information is a step towards breaking friendship and fraternity
of Turkey and Azerbaijan."
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin criticized
Giragosian's comments in an interview with the Turkish "Hurriyet"
daily newspaper, stating that "it's an obvious provocation aimed at
breaking friendly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan."
As the official Turkish spokesman did not deny the essence of
Giragosian's comments, his comments sparked heated calls by leading
Turkish opposition newspapers demanding that Turkey should immediately
break off negotiations with Russia. The "Milliyet" daily, for example,
argued that "Russian arms supplied to Armenia will be used against
Azerbaijan," adding that "assisting (the) Russian military base is
out of the question."
In subsequent comments on this issue, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
noted that "the fact that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt
compelled to officially respond to my comments reported in the Armenian
media only reveals the lack of trust inherent in Turkish-Russian
relations and further demonstrates the weakness of Turkish foreign
policy regarding its engagement of Armenia." He also said that the
incident "questions the sincerity of Turkey's earlier promises to
forge new relations with Armenia, including a commitment to end
its blockade of Armenia and to address the legacy of the Armenian
genocide." Giragosian explained that "the burden is now on Turkey,
as the international community is now becoming increasingly impatient
with what appears to be Turkey's indecisiveness and lack of good will
toward Armenia."
Giragosian also stressed that "even if Turkey decides to reopen the
border with Armenia and to extend diplomatic relations with Armenia,
such moves should not be misinterpreted as any kind of gift or
reward to Armenia, as such minimal steps merely represent the basic
requirements for civilized countries." He concluded by reiterating the
fact that "although there is still at least some degree of optimism,
it is Turkey that is in danger of missing a strategic opportunity to
move forward with Armenia."
News.am
11:41 / 08/19/2009
In a statement released on August 14, the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs responded to recent statement made by Dirdctor of the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) Richard
Giragosian. Giragosian was quoted by the Armenian media as saying that
a "secret agreement" between Turkey and Russia was signed granting
Russia access through Turkish airspace to resupply Russian miliotary
base #102 in the northern Armenian city of Gyumri. The report was also
widely disseminated, as the Azerbaijani "Trend" news agency printed
a statement on August 15 released by the Turkish Embassy in Baku that
refuted the "information about arms shipments to the Russian military
base in Armenia via Turkish airspace." The Turkish Embassy in Baku
released an official statement to the Azerbaijani media claiming that
"such information is a step towards breaking friendship and fraternity
of Turkey and Azerbaijan."
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin criticized
Giragosian's comments in an interview with the Turkish "Hurriyet"
daily newspaper, stating that "it's an obvious provocation aimed at
breaking friendly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan."
As the official Turkish spokesman did not deny the essence of
Giragosian's comments, his comments sparked heated calls by leading
Turkish opposition newspapers demanding that Turkey should immediately
break off negotiations with Russia. The "Milliyet" daily, for example,
argued that "Russian arms supplied to Armenia will be used against
Azerbaijan," adding that "assisting (the) Russian military base is
out of the question."
In subsequent comments on this issue, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
noted that "the fact that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt
compelled to officially respond to my comments reported in the Armenian
media only reveals the lack of trust inherent in Turkish-Russian
relations and further demonstrates the weakness of Turkish foreign
policy regarding its engagement of Armenia." He also said that the
incident "questions the sincerity of Turkey's earlier promises to
forge new relations with Armenia, including a commitment to end
its blockade of Armenia and to address the legacy of the Armenian
genocide." Giragosian explained that "the burden is now on Turkey,
as the international community is now becoming increasingly impatient
with what appears to be Turkey's indecisiveness and lack of good will
toward Armenia."
Giragosian also stressed that "even if Turkey decides to reopen the
border with Armenia and to extend diplomatic relations with Armenia,
such moves should not be misinterpreted as any kind of gift or
reward to Armenia, as such minimal steps merely represent the basic
requirements for civilized countries." He concluded by reiterating the
fact that "although there is still at least some degree of optimism,
it is Turkey that is in danger of missing a strategic opportunity to
move forward with Armenia."