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  • BAKU: Turkish MP: We Will Not Ratify Protocols And Open Borders With

    TURKISH MP: WE WILL NOT RATIFY PROTOCOLS AND OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA UNTIL NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS FINALLY RESOLVED

    Today
    http://www.today.az/news/politics/ 59461.html
    Jan 14 2010
    Azerbaijan

    Day.Az interview with Vahit Erdem, head of Turkey's delegation to
    the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, member of Turkish parliament from
    the ruling AK party and former NATO PA deputy chairman.

    In your opinion, are Turkey-Armenia protocols likely to be ratified
    and the borders between the two countries to be opened this year?

    Turkish leaders have reiterated on many occasions that Turkey-Armenia
    relations cannot be established till the Karabakh conflict is resolved
    within Azerbaijan's interests. Turkey will do nothing contrary to
    Azerbaijan's interests in order to establish relations with Armenia.

    Turkey is very sensitive to the issues related to Azerbaijan. The
    Turkish nation is committed to protecting Azerbaijan's interests.

    On the other hand, there is an anger at Armenians' actions against
    Turks in the Turkish society. These two aspects will not allow Turkey
    to pass a decision to detriment of Azerbaijan's interests.

    The protocols need to ratified by the parliament first so that they
    can be implemented. But this is impossible in near future. Turkish
    public opinion is seriously pressing on the parliament in this matter.

    The Turkish people are against these protocols. The protocols are
    result of the regional situation and international pressure. Turkish
    parliamentarians elected by the people will not act against will of
    the people. If they do, they will be compelled to resign. We will not
    ratify the protocols and open borders with Armenia until the Karabakh
    conflict is finally solved.

    Turkish President Gul recently stated that "something is being cooked
    in the kitchen" referring to relations with Armenia. In your opinion,
    what did he mean?

    I do not know details of this process. But I can say for sure that
    the food which is being prepared in the kitchen will not poison the
    relations between the Turkic peoples. Nothing against Azerbaijan will
    be done during any backroom negotiations either. Any decision made by
    Turkey will be in line with Azerbaijan's interests. The Turkish people
    constantly press on the government to engage in activities to ensure
    return of the Azerbaijan occupied territories. The government is making
    every effort to do so. Today, we are more interested in a just solution
    to the Karabakh problem, rather than establishment of relations with
    Armenia. Not Armenia, but Azerbaijan is more important for us.

    How do you assess the OSCE Minsk Group efforts to resolve the
    Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

    The OSCE Minsk Group is actually a dead body. It has not made any
    progress in resolving the Karabakh conflict for many years of its
    activity. Turkey wants to revive activities of the Minsk Group. In
    fact, Turkey's consent to discuss the protocols also aimed to draw
    world attention to the Karabakh problem. Turkey recalled all including
    the Minsk Group member countries that there is Karabakh conflict in
    the South Caucasus and development in the region impossible without
    its solution.

    The South Caucasus is a priority for the West. The West was closely
    involved with the Abkhaz and South Ossetian problems while ignoring
    the Karabakh conflict. But Turkey drew attention to this problem. The
    West decided to use Turkey's influence to end Russian influence on
    Armenia and involve it to its South Caucasus projects. But all have
    to reckon with Turkey's opinion in this matter. Turkey explained the
    West that if it wants Armenia to develop and get actively involved
    in the processes in the South Caucasus, it must contribute to solving
    the Karabakh problem.

    Conflicts in the South Caucasus hamper the region's integration into
    the NATO. What can the Alliance do to solve these conflicts?

    NATO is currently engaged in solving conflicts in Afghanistan and
    Iraq. Simultaneously, the Alliance is involved in solving a number
    of local conflicts. That is why NATO does not want to interfere in
    another conflict. The Alliance's current policy is to involve the
    South Caucasus into the transatlantic area. Georgia was NATO's first
    objective. But the Alliance faced a serious challenge here in the face
    of Russia. August events in 2008, the problems associated with South
    Ossetia and Abkhazia forced NATO to take a step back. Alliance did
    not want engage in an open conflict with Russia in this region. But
    integration of South Caucasus into NATO is one of the major long-term
    political lines of the Alliance.

    The region is located in the middle of Russia and Iran, two NATO
    opponents. In the meantime, the South Caucasus is the main entrance
    to Central Asia for NATO. Resolving the South Caucasus conflicts is
    important for military security of the region on one hand and for
    energy security on the other.

    Energy resources of the Caspian Sea are exported to the western market
    via the South Caucasus and Turkey. All these factors indicate that
    there is no other way for Armenia's future, than to integrate into
    the West. And the country's only way to the West lies through Turkey.

    Armenia's long-term conflict situation with Turkey which is the only
    way to the Western world for Armenia and an important NATO member in
    the region, may end up very sad for the country. Many do not understand
    that it Armenia, unlike some pro-Armenian circles in the West. That
    is why they try to end Armenia's dependence on Russian.

    NATO refers to the three South Caucasus countries with a single
    prism and sees the future of the region in peaceful coexistence and
    development of all three states.

    NATO has declared fight against international terrorism a top
    priority of its activities. It's no secret that Nagorno-Karabakh is
    a haven for terrorists. The Azerbaijani ]media and certain political
    circles have reiterated many times that PKK has deployed bases in
    Nagorno-Karabakh ...

    After September 11, NATO and the West focused its attention on the
    fight against terrorism. Western countries are well aware that peace
    and tranquility in the world is impossible amid wide-spread terrorism.

    As a result of the long struggle by Turkey, the United States and
    European countries recognized the PKK as a terrorist organization
    and the West has created an opportunity for Turkey to eliminate PKK
    bases in northern Iraq. Today, Northern Iraq is being cleared from
    the PKK and their transition to the South Caucasus is undesirable.

    We can not accept establishment of the PKK bases in Nagorno-Karabakh.

    NATO will certainly oppose this. We have informed the Alliance about
    establishment of PKK bases in Armenia and Karabakh. But we will not
    be limited to this. Mere political statements cannot yield result.

    Armenia will certainly refute this information. We need to have
    reliable intelligence data. As soon as we receive such data, we
    can demand NATO and Western countries to prevent dangers of PKK's
    transition to the South Caucasus.

    One of Turkey's main goals is to prevent PKK's expansion. Before
    planing a military operation against the PKK and other terrorist groups
    in Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey needs to think about a fight against this
    with help of the international political pressure.

    Information on presence of PKK bases in Karabakh are important both for
    Turkey and Azerbaijan. We can use this fact in a political campaign
    against Armenia and Karabakh separatist regime. There is a need to
    socialize this issue and bring to the attention of the international
    community that Karabakh is a target not only for the Armenian, but
    also PKK terrorists.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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