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Turkey to Re-establish Ties with Armenia
By Dorian Jones
30 September 2009
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a gathering at Princeton University,
Princeton, 23 Sep 2009
Turkey's prime minister says an agreement to re-establish diplomatic
ties with Armenia will be signed by the two countries on October
10. Turkey severed ties and closed its border in 1993 after Armenia
fought a war with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nargono Karbakh
enclave. The announcement is the latest development in the thawing of
bilateral relations.
It was last year's football match between Turkey and Armenia in the
Armenian capital Yerevan that was the catalyst for the rapprochement
between the two countries.
Under Swiss mediation, the Turkey and Armenia have conducted talks to
re-establish diplomatic relations, with both sides agreeing on a
protocol to normalize relations.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now said that the
protocol will be signed on October 10. International Relations expert
of Istanbul's Bilgi University says its an important step forward to
restoring relations, but it's just a step..
"I think its pretty significant but then the protocols are going to be
sent to the respective parliaments for ratification and that's when
the deal gets a bit more complicated, there is strong opposition both
in Armenia and Turkey," he said.
Already the main opposition parties in Turkey have condemned the
announcement accusing the government of betraying its ally
Azerbaijan. Ankara severed its ties with Yerevan and closed its border
in 1993 after Armenia fought a war with Azerbaijan over the disputed
Nargono Karbakh enclave.
Armenian forces continue to occupy a large part of Azeri
territory. The government has been quick to dispel accusations of
betrayal saying they remain committed to Azerbaijan.
Earlier this month, Suat Kiniklioglu, spokesman of the Turkish
parliament's foreign affairs committee, insisted that resolving Azeri
grievances remains key to restoring Armenian- Turkish relations.
"Without movement on the Karabahk issue that the normalization process
would be difficult to sustain. The trick here is how do you manage to
have movement on this side, and at the same time sustain the
normalization process without domestically each countries having major
problems. Again another expression I like in the English language, all
the stars are lined up in the right place," he said.
According to international relations expert Soli Ozel, the region's
main powers may for the first time have common interests in bringing
stability to the region.
"My understanding is there is almost near agreement on a frame work
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Americans, of course, are behind
these developments," said Ozel. "But the Russian part is more
important because the Russians can block it anytime they want. But i
think it serves their purpose too because Russian and American
relations seem to be on a better track now than they been for quite
some time now. The Russians may wish to be on the right side of
things. Plus give that Turkish-Russian relations are pretty good and
the Russians would like to send their gas and petrol through Turkey to
where ever, that is something that suits them," Ozel added.
Washington has also being using its diplomatic muscle to pressure and
encourage both Ankara and Yerevan to normalize relations.
Still, there is a historical controversy between Armenia and Turkey,
which could yet undermine those attempts.
Yerevan along with much of the international community accuses
Turkey's then Ottoman rulers in 1915 of committing genocide against
its Armenian minority. Ankara strongly denies the charge. The
controversy continues to sour relations and according to political
scientist and newspaper columnist, Nuray Mert, says there is deep
suspicion within the country over the rapprochement.
"This talk of accepting genocide, these are traps or steps in the way
of accepting genocide, or this discourse of genocide is being imposed
in us by great powers, western powers. That's why this opening the
border debate is not a simple question, for anybody. And the political
opposition is using , knowing that it is a very sensitive issue, is
using it against the government so the matter is getting even more
complicated," said Mert.
The coming weeks are now already being described by analysts as
crucial in helping to bring stability to one of the most unstable
regions in the world.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-30-voa33.c fm?renderforprint=3D1
By Dorian Jones
30 September 2009
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a gathering at Princeton University,
Princeton, 23 Sep 2009
Turkey's prime minister says an agreement to re-establish diplomatic
ties with Armenia will be signed by the two countries on October
10. Turkey severed ties and closed its border in 1993 after Armenia
fought a war with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nargono Karbakh
enclave. The announcement is the latest development in the thawing of
bilateral relations.
It was last year's football match between Turkey and Armenia in the
Armenian capital Yerevan that was the catalyst for the rapprochement
between the two countries.
Under Swiss mediation, the Turkey and Armenia have conducted talks to
re-establish diplomatic relations, with both sides agreeing on a
protocol to normalize relations.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now said that the
protocol will be signed on October 10. International Relations expert
of Istanbul's Bilgi University says its an important step forward to
restoring relations, but it's just a step..
"I think its pretty significant but then the protocols are going to be
sent to the respective parliaments for ratification and that's when
the deal gets a bit more complicated, there is strong opposition both
in Armenia and Turkey," he said.
Already the main opposition parties in Turkey have condemned the
announcement accusing the government of betraying its ally
Azerbaijan. Ankara severed its ties with Yerevan and closed its border
in 1993 after Armenia fought a war with Azerbaijan over the disputed
Nargono Karbakh enclave.
Armenian forces continue to occupy a large part of Azeri
territory. The government has been quick to dispel accusations of
betrayal saying they remain committed to Azerbaijan.
Earlier this month, Suat Kiniklioglu, spokesman of the Turkish
parliament's foreign affairs committee, insisted that resolving Azeri
grievances remains key to restoring Armenian- Turkish relations.
"Without movement on the Karabahk issue that the normalization process
would be difficult to sustain. The trick here is how do you manage to
have movement on this side, and at the same time sustain the
normalization process without domestically each countries having major
problems. Again another expression I like in the English language, all
the stars are lined up in the right place," he said.
According to international relations expert Soli Ozel, the region's
main powers may for the first time have common interests in bringing
stability to the region.
"My understanding is there is almost near agreement on a frame work
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Americans, of course, are behind
these developments," said Ozel. "But the Russian part is more
important because the Russians can block it anytime they want. But i
think it serves their purpose too because Russian and American
relations seem to be on a better track now than they been for quite
some time now. The Russians may wish to be on the right side of
things. Plus give that Turkish-Russian relations are pretty good and
the Russians would like to send their gas and petrol through Turkey to
where ever, that is something that suits them," Ozel added.
Washington has also being using its diplomatic muscle to pressure and
encourage both Ankara and Yerevan to normalize relations.
Still, there is a historical controversy between Armenia and Turkey,
which could yet undermine those attempts.
Yerevan along with much of the international community accuses
Turkey's then Ottoman rulers in 1915 of committing genocide against
its Armenian minority. Ankara strongly denies the charge. The
controversy continues to sour relations and according to political
scientist and newspaper columnist, Nuray Mert, says there is deep
suspicion within the country over the rapprochement.
"This talk of accepting genocide, these are traps or steps in the way
of accepting genocide, or this discourse of genocide is being imposed
in us by great powers, western powers. That's why this opening the
border debate is not a simple question, for anybody. And the political
opposition is using , knowing that it is a very sensitive issue, is
using it against the government so the matter is getting even more
complicated," said Mert.
The coming weeks are now already being described by analysts as
crucial in helping to bring stability to one of the most unstable
regions in the world.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-30-voa33.c fm?renderforprint=3D1