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'IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ARRIVE AT A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION IN CAUCASIA'
news.az
Dec 21 2010
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Prof. Dr. Tayyar Ari, Uludag University, Head of
Department of International Relations, Bursa-Turkey.
How would you comment on the famous scandal with WikiLeaks ? May this
information harm US-Turkish relations?
Most of the documents released by WikiLeaks are ordinary cables
which are widely used by other embassies to inform their country
about the political developments and/or political figures for foreign
policy process. But it is not normal that the documents which should
be stay as confidential and not to be known by the public. In this
context one of the immediate consequences of the WikiLeaks scandal is
that diplomats as well as the politicians would hardly talk frankly
especially with their American colleagues and all of them will be
more cautious than before even the conversations are set as off the
record basis.
When the US-Turkish relations regarded, I don't think that this
scandal would change the relations radically. It is not realistic to
expect that WikiLeaks would harm the general trend of the relations
between Turkey and the United States. But from now on, most probably
they would also be more cautious than before.
And what about Azeri-Turkish relations? Are you sure that WikiLeaks
won't affect the strategic relations between our countries?
Turkey and Azerbaijan probably will not consider this issue seriously.
Both sides have such strong relations and these unbreakable relations
cannot be jeopardized by the alleged conversations. Since such kind
of information depend on personal assessments of ambassadors or
American diplomats documents released should not be taken as serious
by both friend countries. It is also noticed that the objective of
publication of documents are dubious, there are some suspicions about
the way of revelations of documents. There might be certain reasons
behind these processes like aiming to manipulate the relations of
other countries and to create a crisis of confidence among them. So
we should be very careful for this kind of traps and manipulations
to create some problem of confidence between us.
How could you estimate this year for the Turkish policy in the South
Caucasus? How successful it was?
The success of Caucasus policy also depends on the willingness of
Armenian side to set normal relations with its neighbors. Therefore,
Turkish initiatives would probably continue to reach a comprehensive
solution to attain peace in the region. But as I pointed out before,
the pressure of Armenian Diaspora and the policies of global powers
would certainly determine the process. Let me include that Turkey
is very sincere about her relation with Azerbaijan, and Turkish
determination about the ending of occupation of Karabakh should not
be underestimated by the Armenian side.
Do you expect progress in the Karabakh settlement in 2011?
I am not sure that Karabakh issue could be solved by the end of 2011.
First of all, to come to an end on this issue, a multilateral and
sincere approach is needed. In this context, Turkey's desire is
to reach a solution by consistent initiatives. As Turkish Foreign
Minister stated, Turkey is ready to start new initiatives to boost
relations and to strength the solidarity among Turkic countries. But
Turkey's efforts would not be sufficient. So, even Karabakh problem
would be taken in to account and come to table in 2011, the problem
would not be solved unless the support of others is not given.
Armenia has been accusing Turkey in delay of normalization process
between the two countries. How soon it will be possible to normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations?
As I stated that both problems are very linked to each other. The
normalization process depend on the mutual commitments to protocols
signed in Zurich at 2009, but as far as ratification is concerned
Armenian side is not willing to comprehend the link the issue with
the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. So as
long as occupation continues, Ankara would insist not to introduce
the protocol for vote to parliament and open the borders. It is very
important to arrive at a comprehensive solution in Caucasia. In short,
Turkey is against to separate both issues. Turkish position is very
obvious. If normalization desired, first Armenia must withdraw from
occupied territories and its historical claims about Turkish history.
On the other hand, Armenian lobby in Washington as a last resort is
trying to encourage speaker Pelosi to introduce the debated Genocide
resolution which was voted by House Foreign Relations Committee in
March 2010. This initiative has a real potential to spoil not only the
relations between Ankara and Washington but also Ankara and Yerevan.
As long as Armenians reiterate the long lasting historical claims for
the events of 1915, the normalization is hardly moved ahead. It is
obvious that the passage of the so-called resolution in the House will
most probably kill the normalization process and not make constructing
contribution, while creating a new phases of crisis with Washington.
Still internal policy of Armenia and the position of international
Armenian community are obstructing the positive developments in
bilateral relation to boost the peace in Caucasia.
From: A. Papazian
news.az
Dec 21 2010
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Prof. Dr. Tayyar Ari, Uludag University, Head of
Department of International Relations, Bursa-Turkey.
How would you comment on the famous scandal with WikiLeaks ? May this
information harm US-Turkish relations?
Most of the documents released by WikiLeaks are ordinary cables
which are widely used by other embassies to inform their country
about the political developments and/or political figures for foreign
policy process. But it is not normal that the documents which should
be stay as confidential and not to be known by the public. In this
context one of the immediate consequences of the WikiLeaks scandal is
that diplomats as well as the politicians would hardly talk frankly
especially with their American colleagues and all of them will be
more cautious than before even the conversations are set as off the
record basis.
When the US-Turkish relations regarded, I don't think that this
scandal would change the relations radically. It is not realistic to
expect that WikiLeaks would harm the general trend of the relations
between Turkey and the United States. But from now on, most probably
they would also be more cautious than before.
And what about Azeri-Turkish relations? Are you sure that WikiLeaks
won't affect the strategic relations between our countries?
Turkey and Azerbaijan probably will not consider this issue seriously.
Both sides have such strong relations and these unbreakable relations
cannot be jeopardized by the alleged conversations. Since such kind
of information depend on personal assessments of ambassadors or
American diplomats documents released should not be taken as serious
by both friend countries. It is also noticed that the objective of
publication of documents are dubious, there are some suspicions about
the way of revelations of documents. There might be certain reasons
behind these processes like aiming to manipulate the relations of
other countries and to create a crisis of confidence among them. So
we should be very careful for this kind of traps and manipulations
to create some problem of confidence between us.
How could you estimate this year for the Turkish policy in the South
Caucasus? How successful it was?
The success of Caucasus policy also depends on the willingness of
Armenian side to set normal relations with its neighbors. Therefore,
Turkish initiatives would probably continue to reach a comprehensive
solution to attain peace in the region. But as I pointed out before,
the pressure of Armenian Diaspora and the policies of global powers
would certainly determine the process. Let me include that Turkey
is very sincere about her relation with Azerbaijan, and Turkish
determination about the ending of occupation of Karabakh should not
be underestimated by the Armenian side.
Do you expect progress in the Karabakh settlement in 2011?
I am not sure that Karabakh issue could be solved by the end of 2011.
First of all, to come to an end on this issue, a multilateral and
sincere approach is needed. In this context, Turkey's desire is
to reach a solution by consistent initiatives. As Turkish Foreign
Minister stated, Turkey is ready to start new initiatives to boost
relations and to strength the solidarity among Turkic countries. But
Turkey's efforts would not be sufficient. So, even Karabakh problem
would be taken in to account and come to table in 2011, the problem
would not be solved unless the support of others is not given.
Armenia has been accusing Turkey in delay of normalization process
between the two countries. How soon it will be possible to normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations?
As I stated that both problems are very linked to each other. The
normalization process depend on the mutual commitments to protocols
signed in Zurich at 2009, but as far as ratification is concerned
Armenian side is not willing to comprehend the link the issue with
the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. So as
long as occupation continues, Ankara would insist not to introduce
the protocol for vote to parliament and open the borders. It is very
important to arrive at a comprehensive solution in Caucasia. In short,
Turkey is against to separate both issues. Turkish position is very
obvious. If normalization desired, first Armenia must withdraw from
occupied territories and its historical claims about Turkish history.
On the other hand, Armenian lobby in Washington as a last resort is
trying to encourage speaker Pelosi to introduce the debated Genocide
resolution which was voted by House Foreign Relations Committee in
March 2010. This initiative has a real potential to spoil not only the
relations between Ankara and Washington but also Ankara and Yerevan.
As long as Armenians reiterate the long lasting historical claims for
the events of 1915, the normalization is hardly moved ahead. It is
obvious that the passage of the so-called resolution in the House will
most probably kill the normalization process and not make constructing
contribution, while creating a new phases of crisis with Washington.
Still internal policy of Armenia and the position of international
Armenian community are obstructing the positive developments in
bilateral relation to boost the peace in Caucasia.
From: A. Papazian