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IS RUSSIA-TURKEY UNION ABLE TO SOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT? TREND NEWS COMMENTATOR
Trend News Agency
Aug 26 2009
Azerbaijan
The strengthening of relations between Russia and Turkey is beneficial
not just for the two countries. Turkey has had many long-standing
problems in its relations with Armenia. Russia traditionally has had
a special influence on Armenia. Moreover, Russia has huge interests
lying in Turkey's fraternal country - Azerbaijan.
There is a hope that the countries will help each other in promoting
the process to solve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
amid increasing cooperation between Ankara and Moscow.
"Close relations between Turkey and Russia will positively impact
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict ", Turkish Foreign
Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said live on Haber7 TV channel, Anadolu
news agency reported.
Davutoglu said that the countries intend, and are able, to bring the
Black Sea and Caucasus regions out from under the status of conflict
zones. "Turkey has hopes in the Caucasus from the point of view of
Turkish-Armenian, and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations," he said.
The arithmetic is simple: Turkey and Russia are more interested
in solving the frozen Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict now than they
were before.
Russia, which participated in the August conflict in Georgia, must
renew its image as a peacemaker. The best way to prove it is to help
the two Caucasian countries settle the long-running territorial
conflict. As an important regional player and a co-chair of OSCE
Minsk Group, Russia has the necessary chances to fulfill this goal.
Moreover, Moscow needs close relations with Baku in the energy
sector. The West's great dream, the Nabucco gas pipeline, cannot be
realized without Azerbaijani gas.
In a recent article The Wall Street Journal concluded that the role
of Turkmenistan in the Nabucco pipeline project was too exaggerated,
because Ashgabat has bound itself into a 25-year-agreement with Russia,
as well as building a massive pipeline to China - pumping 40 billion
cubic meters.
Thus, the newspaper states that Azerbaijan has been considered
by Western countries as the main supplier of gas in the Nabucco
project. However, Moscow, wishing to remain the key monopolist on
the gas market, has made great efforts to conclude agreements with
Baku to buy Azerbaijani gas in volumes as large as possible.
The Kremlin can gain Baku's favor by putting pressure on Armenia,
its main partner in the South Caucasus.
Turkey has its own interests in solving the long-running territorial
dispute. Firstly, Ankara is also competing as an important regional
player in such a strategically important area as the Caucasus. A
security and cooperation platform in the region, proposed by Turkey
a year ago, became the main political initiative in this area.
It is significant that Turkey and Russia, countries interested in
regional influence in the Caucasus, have become possible participants
in the project.
Turkey's second aim in solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is to
overcome its obstacles in joining the EU.
Despite Europe consistently emphasizing the importance of relations
with Ankara, Turkey still remains outside the EU enlargement process.
Besides a large amount of formal criteria that Ankara must fulfill,
the EU imposes requirements concerning the reunification of Cyprus
along with the recognition of the "Armenian genocide" in the Ottoman
Empire and closure of its border with Armenia.
But settling relations with Yerevan and restoring transport
communications are impossible without solving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Even the "road map" signed in April does not cause optimism
among observers. It aims to neutralize bilateral relations.
It should be noted that Yerevan even made assurances that the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is not linked with Turkey's
recognition of alleged Armenian "genocide".
It hopes that Nagorno-Karabakh will not become a stumbling point
for Turkey.
It is a chance for Turkey not only to settle relations, but to bring
an end to a long-standing historical dispute. However, the country's
leading figures have repeatedly stated that neutralizing relations
is impossible until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is solved.
To sum it up, several regional players will win out by solving the
territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two most
powerful players, Turkey and Russia, should exert maximum efforts
for the sake of their own interests.
Trend News Agency
Aug 26 2009
Azerbaijan
The strengthening of relations between Russia and Turkey is beneficial
not just for the two countries. Turkey has had many long-standing
problems in its relations with Armenia. Russia traditionally has had
a special influence on Armenia. Moreover, Russia has huge interests
lying in Turkey's fraternal country - Azerbaijan.
There is a hope that the countries will help each other in promoting
the process to solve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
amid increasing cooperation between Ankara and Moscow.
"Close relations between Turkey and Russia will positively impact
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict ", Turkish Foreign
Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said live on Haber7 TV channel, Anadolu
news agency reported.
Davutoglu said that the countries intend, and are able, to bring the
Black Sea and Caucasus regions out from under the status of conflict
zones. "Turkey has hopes in the Caucasus from the point of view of
Turkish-Armenian, and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations," he said.
The arithmetic is simple: Turkey and Russia are more interested
in solving the frozen Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict now than they
were before.
Russia, which participated in the August conflict in Georgia, must
renew its image as a peacemaker. The best way to prove it is to help
the two Caucasian countries settle the long-running territorial
conflict. As an important regional player and a co-chair of OSCE
Minsk Group, Russia has the necessary chances to fulfill this goal.
Moreover, Moscow needs close relations with Baku in the energy
sector. The West's great dream, the Nabucco gas pipeline, cannot be
realized without Azerbaijani gas.
In a recent article The Wall Street Journal concluded that the role
of Turkmenistan in the Nabucco pipeline project was too exaggerated,
because Ashgabat has bound itself into a 25-year-agreement with Russia,
as well as building a massive pipeline to China - pumping 40 billion
cubic meters.
Thus, the newspaper states that Azerbaijan has been considered
by Western countries as the main supplier of gas in the Nabucco
project. However, Moscow, wishing to remain the key monopolist on
the gas market, has made great efforts to conclude agreements with
Baku to buy Azerbaijani gas in volumes as large as possible.
The Kremlin can gain Baku's favor by putting pressure on Armenia,
its main partner in the South Caucasus.
Turkey has its own interests in solving the long-running territorial
dispute. Firstly, Ankara is also competing as an important regional
player in such a strategically important area as the Caucasus. A
security and cooperation platform in the region, proposed by Turkey
a year ago, became the main political initiative in this area.
It is significant that Turkey and Russia, countries interested in
regional influence in the Caucasus, have become possible participants
in the project.
Turkey's second aim in solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is to
overcome its obstacles in joining the EU.
Despite Europe consistently emphasizing the importance of relations
with Ankara, Turkey still remains outside the EU enlargement process.
Besides a large amount of formal criteria that Ankara must fulfill,
the EU imposes requirements concerning the reunification of Cyprus
along with the recognition of the "Armenian genocide" in the Ottoman
Empire and closure of its border with Armenia.
But settling relations with Yerevan and restoring transport
communications are impossible without solving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Even the "road map" signed in April does not cause optimism
among observers. It aims to neutralize bilateral relations.
It should be noted that Yerevan even made assurances that the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is not linked with Turkey's
recognition of alleged Armenian "genocide".
It hopes that Nagorno-Karabakh will not become a stumbling point
for Turkey.
It is a chance for Turkey not only to settle relations, but to bring
an end to a long-standing historical dispute. However, the country's
leading figures have repeatedly stated that neutralizing relations
is impossible until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is solved.
To sum it up, several regional players will win out by solving the
territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two most
powerful players, Turkey and Russia, should exert maximum efforts
for the sake of their own interests.