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NAGORNO-KARABAKH LOOMS IN REGIONAL TIES
United Press International, Asia
Top News
Published: Oct. 14, 2009
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The ratification of protocols restoring
bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia are beneficial for both,
though regional issues remain, an expert said.
Claims of genocide against the Armenian people under the Ottoman
Empire during World War I damaged bilateral relations.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan,
which was engaged in a military conflict over the disputed territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkish and Armenian leaders convened in Zurich, Switzerland, during
the weekend to sign measures that would normalize bilateral relations
if approved by both governments.
Henri Barkey, a Turkish expert and visiting scholar at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, described the protocol as beneficial
for both Turkey and Armenia.
"Turkey will have removed an important source of tension with their
allies in Europe and across the Atlantic," he said. "The Armenians
will benefit economically, especially if they can slowly link into
the oil and gas pipeline networks in the region."
Regional relations are complicated, however, over issues regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of dispute between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. Yerevan claims ethnic Armenians are deprived of their basic
rights in the territory, while Baku argues those solutions lie in
annexing Nagorno-Karabakh.
"It is too early to tell how the region as a whole will be affected,"
says Barkey. "Much depends on Azerbaijan's reaction, and future
efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem."
2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
United Press International, Asia
Top News
Published: Oct. 14, 2009
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The ratification of protocols restoring
bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia are beneficial for both,
though regional issues remain, an expert said.
Claims of genocide against the Armenian people under the Ottoman
Empire during World War I damaged bilateral relations.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan,
which was engaged in a military conflict over the disputed territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkish and Armenian leaders convened in Zurich, Switzerland, during
the weekend to sign measures that would normalize bilateral relations
if approved by both governments.
Henri Barkey, a Turkish expert and visiting scholar at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, described the protocol as beneficial
for both Turkey and Armenia.
"Turkey will have removed an important source of tension with their
allies in Europe and across the Atlantic," he said. "The Armenians
will benefit economically, especially if they can slowly link into
the oil and gas pipeline networks in the region."
Regional relations are complicated, however, over issues regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of dispute between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. Yerevan claims ethnic Armenians are deprived of their basic
rights in the territory, while Baku argues those solutions lie in
annexing Nagorno-Karabakh.
"It is too early to tell how the region as a whole will be affected,"
says Barkey. "Much depends on Azerbaijan's reaction, and future
efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem."
2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.