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MIXED RESPONSES TO TURKISH-ARMENIAN RAPPROCHEMENT BID
AzerNews weekly
Sept 8 2009
Azerbaijan
08-09-2009 23:34:47 The opposition in Turkey and Armenia have
criticized the latest agreement reached by the two countries to
normalize their strained relations, despite the world community`s
welcoming the move.
Early last week, Ankara and Yerevan agreed with Swiss mediation to
begin negotiations on forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral
relations in a bid to end a century of hostility. The two countries
announced, in a joint statement, that they would complete domestic
consultations over two protocols within six weeks, to be followed by
their ratification in the Turkish and Armenian parliaments.
The Armenian National Congress, led by Levon Ter-Petrosian,
the opposition leader and former president, has said restoring
cooperation meets the interests of both nations and the intent to
sign the protocols could be considered progress toward establishing
diplomatic ties. The Congress claimed, however, that it was
unacceptable to include in the documents a provision on setting up
an intergovernmental commission of historians, which questions the
alleged genocide of Armenians.
The Armenian opposition also said the planned legislative approval
of the protocols raises concerns.
"This enables President Serzh Sarkisian to share responsibility
with parliament, while Turkey could delay the ratification under
the pretext of the unresolved status of the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict, postponing the reopening of the Turkish-Armenian border,"
the Congress said in a statement.
The two neighbors have been at odds and their shared border has been
shut since 1993 due to Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani
territory and Armenian claims on mass killings of their ancestors
by Ottoman Turks during World War I. The "roadmap" to normalize
Turkish-Armenian ties was announced in April, but the August 31
verbal agreements are considered the first real move toward reaching
that goal.
The Armenian Volunteers bloc labeled the agreements with Turkey as
"treason of the criminal Serzh Sarkisian authorities", calling on
Armenians worldwide to vehemently oppose the intended signing of
the protocols.
Armenians residing in Istanbul welcomed the signs of improvement
in Turkish-Armenian relations and now plan to give an iftar dinner
for Muslims in the courtyard of Surp Grigor Lusavorich Yekeghetsi
(the Saint Gregory the Ilumminator Cathedral) in the Kinaliada Island
located in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul. Azan, a call for Muslim
prayer, will be read at the church, as well, the Turkish Jihan news
agency reported.
The organizer of the iftar ceremony, Levon Shadyan, who heads the Saint
Gregory the Ilumminator Cathedral in Turkey, lauded the agreements
reached between Turkey and Armenia.
"The problems with our neighbor should be solved," he said. "You
have a neighbor, but you don`t open the door. But if you do open it,
he will understand you and you will understand him."
The cleric noted, with a great deal of satisfaction, that Turkish-made
goods are sold in 98 percent of Armenian stores and, if the border
reopens, these goods will be delivered directly, without passing
through third countries.
Ara Kochunyan, the editor of the Armenian-language Jamanak newspaper,
published in Turkey for over a century, also said the agreements
reached by the two countries inspire optimism in both nations.
But the Turkish opposition and newspapers delivered a tough response
to the rapprochement. Turkish opposition parties urged the government
not to re-establish relations until the Garabagh conflict is settled.
"Parliament shouldn`t approve the steps announced unless Armenia ends
its occupation of the territories belonging to Azerbaijan," Osman
Cakir, deputy chairman of the Nationalist Action Party, and Onur Oymen,
deputy chairman of the Republican People`s Party, told NTV channel.
MP Rashad Dogru told the Baku-based ATV channel that the opposition
would air its grievances in the legislature in the coming days.
Oktay Ekshi, a senior writer for the influential Hurriyet newspaper,
commented: "The uproar around these two protocols will not subside
soon, because this will bring about either forging bilateral relations
between Turkey and Armenia while disrupting Turkey-Azerbaijan
relations, or everything will collapse."
Mehmet Yilmaz, another Hurriyet writer, believes the signing of the
protocols would be tantamount to Turkey`s giving up its assertion that
"it won`t open the border until the Garabagh conflict is resolved."
Barcin Yinanc, the editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News, told
Radio Liberty that, despite the rhetoric of Turkish officials,
the fact that Upper Garabagh was not cited in the formal version
of the protocols came as a surprise. Nor do the documents cite that
Armenian armed forces occupy part of Azerbaijani territory. According
to the Hurriyet editor, this could be described as the outcome of a
political compromise.
International groups welcomed the Turkish and Armenian initiatives
to mend bilateral ties, following similar messages from the French
and US governments.
The European Commission called on the two countries to act
expeditiously to normalize ties. The organization said that the
agreements reached would promote peace in the Caucasus.
"The European Commission attaches great importance to the signing
and enforcement of the protocol on restoring diplomatic ties and of
the protocol on developing bilateral relations."
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the acting Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, "strongly welcomed" the Turkish-Armenian agreement to sign
two protocols.
"This is a historic event for both countries and the region,"
Boer-Buquicchio said in Strasbourg. "It will help to normalize
relations between two member states of the Council of Europe and I
would like to encourage the two countries to continue on the path
which will help to improve the stability in this part of Europe."
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis,
also indicated that Turkey and Armenia`s plan to start talks aiming to
normalize bilateral relations would contribute to regional stability.
"The establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia would
be a positive step, not just for the South Caucasus region, but also
beyond," Bakoyannis said. "I warmly welcome this positive step toward
normalization of ties between two OSCE participating states."
Bakoyannis called on both sides to build on the positive momentum
achieved in the Swiss-led talks.
Russia, a neghbor of both Turkey and Armenia, praised their latest
drive for a rapprochement. Its foreign ministry emphasized that both
countries are friendly states, and Moscow deems the progress as "a
natural and anticipated process." "We would be very glad if these
consultations, which are a domestic affair, result in substantive
agreements," the ministry said.
The Russian government believes that none of the steps envisioned
in the proposed protocols could be detrimental to any third party,
apparently hinting at Azerbaijan.
Baku noted that holding talks on normalization of relations is a
sovereign right of both Turkey and Armenia, however, Azerbaijan`s
interests should be honored in the process.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier said the opening of
the border with Armenia is not on the agenda at this point. Ankara`s
main expectations are Yerevan`s relinquishing its claims on the
alleged genocide and a settlement to the Garabagh conflict. Davutoglu
pledged that Azerbaijan`s interests would be met during all stages
of the process.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated during a visit to
Baku in May that Turkey would not open up its border with Armenia as
long as it occupies Azerbaijan`s territories.
However, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian claims the
border is expected to open on January 1, 2010. Nalbandian alleged
that the process of mending ties with Turkey has no bearing on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, saying the co-chairs of the mediating
OSCE Minsk Group support this stance.
As for Baku`s tough position on the prospect of the border opening,
the Armenian minister said the changes taking place in the turbulent
region would benefit Azerbaijan as well.
Further, Nalbandian said Yerevan would strive to join all regional
projects if its relations with Ankara normalize.
Turkey`s Star newspaper reported quoting a source from the country`s
energy ministry that the energy balance would be altered in the region
if the Turkish and Armenian parliaments ratify the two protocols. The
report claimed that, following approval of the documents, technical
changes would occur in the project on the Nabucco pipeline, which
seeks to pump Caspian and Central Asian gas to European markets,
and the European Union is likely to call for the pipeline to pass
through Armenia, rather than Georgia.
According to the Star, the EU has long been seeking to have
Armenia join the project, with France being the most arduous
supporter. Pointing out that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline
passes through Georgia, which faced a military incursion by Russian
troops in August 2008, the 27-member bloc considers it to be risky
to route another key pipeline through the country. Therefore, it
believes Armenia is an alternative transit state for energy supplies,
the Star said.
AzerNews weekly
Sept 8 2009
Azerbaijan
08-09-2009 23:34:47 The opposition in Turkey and Armenia have
criticized the latest agreement reached by the two countries to
normalize their strained relations, despite the world community`s
welcoming the move.
Early last week, Ankara and Yerevan agreed with Swiss mediation to
begin negotiations on forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral
relations in a bid to end a century of hostility. The two countries
announced, in a joint statement, that they would complete domestic
consultations over two protocols within six weeks, to be followed by
their ratification in the Turkish and Armenian parliaments.
The Armenian National Congress, led by Levon Ter-Petrosian,
the opposition leader and former president, has said restoring
cooperation meets the interests of both nations and the intent to
sign the protocols could be considered progress toward establishing
diplomatic ties. The Congress claimed, however, that it was
unacceptable to include in the documents a provision on setting up
an intergovernmental commission of historians, which questions the
alleged genocide of Armenians.
The Armenian opposition also said the planned legislative approval
of the protocols raises concerns.
"This enables President Serzh Sarkisian to share responsibility
with parliament, while Turkey could delay the ratification under
the pretext of the unresolved status of the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict, postponing the reopening of the Turkish-Armenian border,"
the Congress said in a statement.
The two neighbors have been at odds and their shared border has been
shut since 1993 due to Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani
territory and Armenian claims on mass killings of their ancestors
by Ottoman Turks during World War I. The "roadmap" to normalize
Turkish-Armenian ties was announced in April, but the August 31
verbal agreements are considered the first real move toward reaching
that goal.
The Armenian Volunteers bloc labeled the agreements with Turkey as
"treason of the criminal Serzh Sarkisian authorities", calling on
Armenians worldwide to vehemently oppose the intended signing of
the protocols.
Armenians residing in Istanbul welcomed the signs of improvement
in Turkish-Armenian relations and now plan to give an iftar dinner
for Muslims in the courtyard of Surp Grigor Lusavorich Yekeghetsi
(the Saint Gregory the Ilumminator Cathedral) in the Kinaliada Island
located in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul. Azan, a call for Muslim
prayer, will be read at the church, as well, the Turkish Jihan news
agency reported.
The organizer of the iftar ceremony, Levon Shadyan, who heads the Saint
Gregory the Ilumminator Cathedral in Turkey, lauded the agreements
reached between Turkey and Armenia.
"The problems with our neighbor should be solved," he said. "You
have a neighbor, but you don`t open the door. But if you do open it,
he will understand you and you will understand him."
The cleric noted, with a great deal of satisfaction, that Turkish-made
goods are sold in 98 percent of Armenian stores and, if the border
reopens, these goods will be delivered directly, without passing
through third countries.
Ara Kochunyan, the editor of the Armenian-language Jamanak newspaper,
published in Turkey for over a century, also said the agreements
reached by the two countries inspire optimism in both nations.
But the Turkish opposition and newspapers delivered a tough response
to the rapprochement. Turkish opposition parties urged the government
not to re-establish relations until the Garabagh conflict is settled.
"Parliament shouldn`t approve the steps announced unless Armenia ends
its occupation of the territories belonging to Azerbaijan," Osman
Cakir, deputy chairman of the Nationalist Action Party, and Onur Oymen,
deputy chairman of the Republican People`s Party, told NTV channel.
MP Rashad Dogru told the Baku-based ATV channel that the opposition
would air its grievances in the legislature in the coming days.
Oktay Ekshi, a senior writer for the influential Hurriyet newspaper,
commented: "The uproar around these two protocols will not subside
soon, because this will bring about either forging bilateral relations
between Turkey and Armenia while disrupting Turkey-Azerbaijan
relations, or everything will collapse."
Mehmet Yilmaz, another Hurriyet writer, believes the signing of the
protocols would be tantamount to Turkey`s giving up its assertion that
"it won`t open the border until the Garabagh conflict is resolved."
Barcin Yinanc, the editor-in-chief of Hurriyet Daily News, told
Radio Liberty that, despite the rhetoric of Turkish officials,
the fact that Upper Garabagh was not cited in the formal version
of the protocols came as a surprise. Nor do the documents cite that
Armenian armed forces occupy part of Azerbaijani territory. According
to the Hurriyet editor, this could be described as the outcome of a
political compromise.
International groups welcomed the Turkish and Armenian initiatives
to mend bilateral ties, following similar messages from the French
and US governments.
The European Commission called on the two countries to act
expeditiously to normalize ties. The organization said that the
agreements reached would promote peace in the Caucasus.
"The European Commission attaches great importance to the signing
and enforcement of the protocol on restoring diplomatic ties and of
the protocol on developing bilateral relations."
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the acting Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, "strongly welcomed" the Turkish-Armenian agreement to sign
two protocols.
"This is a historic event for both countries and the region,"
Boer-Buquicchio said in Strasbourg. "It will help to normalize
relations between two member states of the Council of Europe and I
would like to encourage the two countries to continue on the path
which will help to improve the stability in this part of Europe."
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis,
also indicated that Turkey and Armenia`s plan to start talks aiming to
normalize bilateral relations would contribute to regional stability.
"The establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia would
be a positive step, not just for the South Caucasus region, but also
beyond," Bakoyannis said. "I warmly welcome this positive step toward
normalization of ties between two OSCE participating states."
Bakoyannis called on both sides to build on the positive momentum
achieved in the Swiss-led talks.
Russia, a neghbor of both Turkey and Armenia, praised their latest
drive for a rapprochement. Its foreign ministry emphasized that both
countries are friendly states, and Moscow deems the progress as "a
natural and anticipated process." "We would be very glad if these
consultations, which are a domestic affair, result in substantive
agreements," the ministry said.
The Russian government believes that none of the steps envisioned
in the proposed protocols could be detrimental to any third party,
apparently hinting at Azerbaijan.
Baku noted that holding talks on normalization of relations is a
sovereign right of both Turkey and Armenia, however, Azerbaijan`s
interests should be honored in the process.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier said the opening of
the border with Armenia is not on the agenda at this point. Ankara`s
main expectations are Yerevan`s relinquishing its claims on the
alleged genocide and a settlement to the Garabagh conflict. Davutoglu
pledged that Azerbaijan`s interests would be met during all stages
of the process.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated during a visit to
Baku in May that Turkey would not open up its border with Armenia as
long as it occupies Azerbaijan`s territories.
However, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian claims the
border is expected to open on January 1, 2010. Nalbandian alleged
that the process of mending ties with Turkey has no bearing on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, saying the co-chairs of the mediating
OSCE Minsk Group support this stance.
As for Baku`s tough position on the prospect of the border opening,
the Armenian minister said the changes taking place in the turbulent
region would benefit Azerbaijan as well.
Further, Nalbandian said Yerevan would strive to join all regional
projects if its relations with Ankara normalize.
Turkey`s Star newspaper reported quoting a source from the country`s
energy ministry that the energy balance would be altered in the region
if the Turkish and Armenian parliaments ratify the two protocols. The
report claimed that, following approval of the documents, technical
changes would occur in the project on the Nabucco pipeline, which
seeks to pump Caspian and Central Asian gas to European markets,
and the European Union is likely to call for the pipeline to pass
through Armenia, rather than Georgia.
According to the Star, the EU has long been seeking to have
Armenia join the project, with France being the most arduous
supporter. Pointing out that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline
passes through Georgia, which faced a military incursion by Russian
troops in August 2008, the 27-member bloc considers it to be risky
to route another key pipeline through the country. Therefore, it
believes Armenia is an alternative transit state for energy supplies,
the Star said.