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ARMENIA SHOULD ASK US TO OPEN BORDERS NOT TO STARVE TO DEATH: TURKISH MP
Today
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with member of Turkey's Grand National Assembly from
the Nationalist Movement Party and member of the parliament's Foreign
Relations Committee Senol Bal.
Day.Az: Do you think that now Turkey talk less about protocols signed
to normalize relations with Armenia?
Senol Bal: No, this question can not move to the background. Our
country is experiencing a very serious period. We will face very hard
times ahead. There will be a pressure from the EU and the U.S.. The
EU and the European Parliament constantly urge Turkey to discuss the
protocols in the parliament.
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn said that "the
EU calls on Turkey to ratify the protocols with Armenia and begin
their implementation." This is not a statement, but delirium! This
considerable pressure puts Turkey and Azerbaijan in a difficult
position. We expect even greater pressure from the United States. The
protocols will appear in parliament in this case.
I think that the parliament will demonstrate a strong resistance not
to ratify the protocols.
Q: Do you think Turkey had no other choice but to sign protocols?
A: Ankara faced a pressure. Turkey is an independent country and it
had to take risks. But the government decided not to risk. Today the
government seeks to pursue policy of a "trouble-free neighborhood". Of
course, there is nothing wrong in seeking to establish good neighborly
relations with neighbors.
However, Armenia has no right to talk about good-neighborly relations
with Turkey.
It has occupied 20 percent of the territory of a Turkic state and
expelled nearly one million Azeri Turks from their homes. Armenians
killed tens of thousands of Turks. Khojaly Massacre is not forgotten.
However, the state which committed it sits down at the negotiating
table with Turkey and we are even urged to help them. It's insulting,
it is a historical mistake.
Q: Many say Karabakh problem remained unresolved for 17 years that
have passed since the closure of Turkey-Armenia border and that, on
contrary, warming of Turkish-Armenian relations may have a positive
impact on resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
A: Turks need to better know Armenians historically. Today everybody
says that once ties are established, Armenia will give up "genocide"
claims and Karabakh conflict will be solved. One should bear in mind
that Turkey has done a lot for Armenia. Turkey was one of the first
to recognize Armenia's independence following the collapse of the USSR.
Turkey extended a helping hand to disaster victims in Armenia. Taking
into account the poor condition in Armenia, Turkey agreed to admit
this country to the BSEC while it could also veto it. Turkey opened
its airspace for Armenia.
Currently, there is no production in Armenia. People head to other
countries to earn money. Nearly 50,000-60,000 Armenian migrants work
in Turkey. They support their families with their income back in
Armenia. Today Armenia has to make concessions to Turkey, but not
Turkey to Armenia. In fact, Armenia should ask us to open borders
not to starve to death and abandon its claims. But today everything
is so different.
Any country thinks about its benefits while establishing relations
with another country. If relations with Armenia bring no benefit to
Turkey, what is a need for such a senseless friendship which causes
tension in relations with Azerbaijan?
This is a strange diplomacy in which we get in fights with our brothers
in order to please the West and America.
Each time the EU creates a new obstacle to prevent Turkey's admission.
Relations with Armenia is another obstacle removal of which will not
lead to Turkey's membership in the EU. Turkey will not lose much even
if it does not accede to the EU. But the loss of Azerbaijan would be
costly for us. We, Turks easily forgot all that they had done to us.
Armenians soiled our history responding us by "genocide."
Q: Is Turkey likely to become co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group?
A: By logic, if the Minsk Group includes Russia, Armenia's ally, Turkey
should also be represented as an ally of Azerbaijan. The balance of
forces is disrupted in the Minsk group. All three co-chairs defend
Armenia's interests. Officials of these countries say they recognize
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in words. But when it comes to
Karabakh, the things are somewhat different.
That is why I do not believe this conflict will be resolved through
the Minsk Group mediation.
With regard to Turkey's mediation, the two other co-chair will
still view the problem through Armenia's interests. Therefore, it is
necessary to find other solutions. Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
have met on several occasions after the Minsk Group was set up.
Despite this, we know that Armenia stiffened its stance on resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict after discussions on Turkish-Armenian
protocols began and even before they were signed. Serzh Sargsyan held
even more rigid position in the Chisinau meeting.
We predicted this such development of events. We urged the government
not to rush to establish relations with Armenia until some progress
happens in resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Secondly, Turkey has
problems with Armenia not only because of Karabakh. Armenia does not
renounce its territorial claims against Turkey. Moreover, Armenia
accuses Turkey of "genocide."
Today
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with member of Turkey's Grand National Assembly from
the Nationalist Movement Party and member of the parliament's Foreign
Relations Committee Senol Bal.
Day.Az: Do you think that now Turkey talk less about protocols signed
to normalize relations with Armenia?
Senol Bal: No, this question can not move to the background. Our
country is experiencing a very serious period. We will face very hard
times ahead. There will be a pressure from the EU and the U.S.. The
EU and the European Parliament constantly urge Turkey to discuss the
protocols in the parliament.
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn said that "the
EU calls on Turkey to ratify the protocols with Armenia and begin
their implementation." This is not a statement, but delirium! This
considerable pressure puts Turkey and Azerbaijan in a difficult
position. We expect even greater pressure from the United States. The
protocols will appear in parliament in this case.
I think that the parliament will demonstrate a strong resistance not
to ratify the protocols.
Q: Do you think Turkey had no other choice but to sign protocols?
A: Ankara faced a pressure. Turkey is an independent country and it
had to take risks. But the government decided not to risk. Today the
government seeks to pursue policy of a "trouble-free neighborhood". Of
course, there is nothing wrong in seeking to establish good neighborly
relations with neighbors.
However, Armenia has no right to talk about good-neighborly relations
with Turkey.
It has occupied 20 percent of the territory of a Turkic state and
expelled nearly one million Azeri Turks from their homes. Armenians
killed tens of thousands of Turks. Khojaly Massacre is not forgotten.
However, the state which committed it sits down at the negotiating
table with Turkey and we are even urged to help them. It's insulting,
it is a historical mistake.
Q: Many say Karabakh problem remained unresolved for 17 years that
have passed since the closure of Turkey-Armenia border and that, on
contrary, warming of Turkish-Armenian relations may have a positive
impact on resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
A: Turks need to better know Armenians historically. Today everybody
says that once ties are established, Armenia will give up "genocide"
claims and Karabakh conflict will be solved. One should bear in mind
that Turkey has done a lot for Armenia. Turkey was one of the first
to recognize Armenia's independence following the collapse of the USSR.
Turkey extended a helping hand to disaster victims in Armenia. Taking
into account the poor condition in Armenia, Turkey agreed to admit
this country to the BSEC while it could also veto it. Turkey opened
its airspace for Armenia.
Currently, there is no production in Armenia. People head to other
countries to earn money. Nearly 50,000-60,000 Armenian migrants work
in Turkey. They support their families with their income back in
Armenia. Today Armenia has to make concessions to Turkey, but not
Turkey to Armenia. In fact, Armenia should ask us to open borders
not to starve to death and abandon its claims. But today everything
is so different.
Any country thinks about its benefits while establishing relations
with another country. If relations with Armenia bring no benefit to
Turkey, what is a need for such a senseless friendship which causes
tension in relations with Azerbaijan?
This is a strange diplomacy in which we get in fights with our brothers
in order to please the West and America.
Each time the EU creates a new obstacle to prevent Turkey's admission.
Relations with Armenia is another obstacle removal of which will not
lead to Turkey's membership in the EU. Turkey will not lose much even
if it does not accede to the EU. But the loss of Azerbaijan would be
costly for us. We, Turks easily forgot all that they had done to us.
Armenians soiled our history responding us by "genocide."
Q: Is Turkey likely to become co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group?
A: By logic, if the Minsk Group includes Russia, Armenia's ally, Turkey
should also be represented as an ally of Azerbaijan. The balance of
forces is disrupted in the Minsk group. All three co-chairs defend
Armenia's interests. Officials of these countries say they recognize
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in words. But when it comes to
Karabakh, the things are somewhat different.
That is why I do not believe this conflict will be resolved through
the Minsk Group mediation.
With regard to Turkey's mediation, the two other co-chair will
still view the problem through Armenia's interests. Therefore, it is
necessary to find other solutions. Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
have met on several occasions after the Minsk Group was set up.
Despite this, we know that Armenia stiffened its stance on resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict after discussions on Turkish-Armenian
protocols began and even before they were signed. Serzh Sargsyan held
even more rigid position in the Chisinau meeting.
We predicted this such development of events. We urged the government
not to rush to establish relations with Armenia until some progress
happens in resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Secondly, Turkey has
problems with Armenia not only because of Karabakh. Armenia does not
renounce its territorial claims against Turkey. Moreover, Armenia
accuses Turkey of "genocide."