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TURKEY PUSHES TO SPEED KARABAKH TALKS BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
Hurriyet Daily News
April 20 2010
Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stepped up diplomatic
efforts. AP photo
With a few days left for U.S. President Barack Obama to make his
annual speech on the 1915 killings of the Armenians during the last
days of Ottoman Empire, Turkey has increased its diplomatic efforts
to speed up the peace process between Baku and Yerevan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Armenian President
Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Memedyarov on Monday to
inform them about recent meetings on the reconciliation process
between Turkish and Armenian officials in Washington.
"We first met with France's President Nicholas Sarkozy, then with Mr.
Obama and we also contacted the Russians. These three countries
make up the Minsk Group. And we also had meetings with Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Now we have a better picture in front of us," Davutoglu
told reporters traveling with him late Monday.
"Thanks to these sorts of meetings we can always keep the issue on
the agenda of the international community. We do have the objective
of keeping the relations between the parties in the right rhythm."
Davutoglu added that Russian President Dimitry Medvedev would visit
Turkey on May 11 and 12.
Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols last year in Zurich to
normalize their relations and open their shared border. But due to
Azerbaijan's strong reaction to the protocols before the Armenians
withdraw from the occupied Azeri lands, Turkey introduced the
pre-condition of improvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks for
parliamentary ratification of the protocols.
Proposed timeline
The U.S. has been a strong advocate of the protocol between Turkey
and Armenia and has pressured both countries to ratify as soon as
possible. The approval of the Armenian "genocide" resolution by the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the House Representative on March 4 was
seen as an early warning to Turkey if it were to consider halting
the normalization process.
When asked if Turkey would accept a proposed timeline for the
ratification of the protocols, Davutoglu underlined the importance
of keeping the process moving in the right direction. "Both parties
should of course do their best to conclude the process as soon as
possible. But instead of highlighting the timelines, it is better to
work on building mutual confidence."
Though neither Turkey nor Armenia views the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
as an important hurdle before the normalization of the two countries,
it has certainly slowed the process. For diplomatic sources, progress
in the direction of the resolution of the two-decade old conflict could
mobilize Turkey and Armenia to conclude what they started in 2009.
In this regard, Armenia's potential decision to withdraw from even
two regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave could have an
enormous effect on the regional stability. Turkish officials believe
such a move, which would break up the status quo, could trigger a
more positive mood between the parties and lead to more courageous
steps in the future.
Hurriyet Daily News
April 20 2010
Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stepped up diplomatic
efforts. AP photo
With a few days left for U.S. President Barack Obama to make his
annual speech on the 1915 killings of the Armenians during the last
days of Ottoman Empire, Turkey has increased its diplomatic efforts
to speed up the peace process between Baku and Yerevan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Armenian President
Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Memedyarov on Monday to
inform them about recent meetings on the reconciliation process
between Turkish and Armenian officials in Washington.
"We first met with France's President Nicholas Sarkozy, then with Mr.
Obama and we also contacted the Russians. These three countries
make up the Minsk Group. And we also had meetings with Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Now we have a better picture in front of us," Davutoglu
told reporters traveling with him late Monday.
"Thanks to these sorts of meetings we can always keep the issue on
the agenda of the international community. We do have the objective
of keeping the relations between the parties in the right rhythm."
Davutoglu added that Russian President Dimitry Medvedev would visit
Turkey on May 11 and 12.
Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols last year in Zurich to
normalize their relations and open their shared border. But due to
Azerbaijan's strong reaction to the protocols before the Armenians
withdraw from the occupied Azeri lands, Turkey introduced the
pre-condition of improvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks for
parliamentary ratification of the protocols.
Proposed timeline
The U.S. has been a strong advocate of the protocol between Turkey
and Armenia and has pressured both countries to ratify as soon as
possible. The approval of the Armenian "genocide" resolution by the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the House Representative on March 4 was
seen as an early warning to Turkey if it were to consider halting
the normalization process.
When asked if Turkey would accept a proposed timeline for the
ratification of the protocols, Davutoglu underlined the importance
of keeping the process moving in the right direction. "Both parties
should of course do their best to conclude the process as soon as
possible. But instead of highlighting the timelines, it is better to
work on building mutual confidence."
Though neither Turkey nor Armenia views the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
as an important hurdle before the normalization of the two countries,
it has certainly slowed the process. For diplomatic sources, progress
in the direction of the resolution of the two-decade old conflict could
mobilize Turkey and Armenia to conclude what they started in 2009.
In this regard, Armenia's potential decision to withdraw from even
two regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave could have an
enormous effect on the regional stability. Turkish officials believe
such a move, which would break up the status quo, could trigger a
more positive mood between the parties and lead to more courageous
steps in the future.