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TURKISH MP: TURKEY MAY REFUSE TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA IF U.S. EXERTS PRESSURE TO RATIFY PROTOCOLS
Today
http://www.today.az/news/turkey/6 4139.html
March 16 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Member of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey (Parliament) from the ruling Justice and Development Party,
Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs
Mehmet Ceylan.
How do you assess the move by the U.S. Congress House Committee on
Foreign Relations to pass the Resolution 252 labeling the 1915 events
in the Ottoman Empire as "genocide"?
It should be noted that the "genocide" resolution is very inappropriate
and absurd project. The resolution was adopted by a margin of only one
vote. But, anyway, this is a dangerous process. The voting procedure
showed that the Armenian lobby can achieve its goal through pressure
on the Congress where Democrats, who are supporters of the "iron
democracy", make up majority.
In fact, it was a very unpleasant scene for the United States. The
actions of the U.S. Democrats can be considered "black spot" in the
history of American democracy. President Barack Obama, being aware
of this, announced that he would try to ensure that the project is
not debated by the House of Representatives. So, I think that the U.S.
will no longer take risks and bring up the resolution for discussions
by the full House. In addition, the United States is well aware that
Turkey plays an important role in regional peacekeeping programs.
Turkey is one of the great and powerful regional states.
The "genocide" resolution has caused deep resentment in the Turkish
society. The U.S. analysts emphasize that the reaction of the Turkish
public will be even stronger if the resolution gets Full House vote.
The U.S. ambassador to Turkey in his turn announced that this
resolution will not bring benefit to anyone, but cause damage to
relations between the U.S. and Turkey. This shows that the U.S. public
is not resolute in the issue of "genocide" and they have no unified
position.
It was the U.S. which asked Turkey to contribute to normalization of
relations in the Caucasus. It considered resolving problems between
Turkey and Armenia as a first step to normalize ties. But instead of
normalizing ties, the U.S. added fuel to the fire. If Americans wish
to normalize relations in the region, they have to replace their
tinderbox with barrel of water. I do not think that the U.S. will
continue the path leading to deterioration of relations with Turkey.
It is believed that the "Armenian genocide" resolution was adopted in
an attempt to exert pressure on Turkey to ratify the Turkish-Armenian
protocols. Do you share this opinion?
When we talk about normalization of relations in the Caucasus,
primarily we have in mind relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but
not the Turkish-Armenian relations. We began to normalize relations
with Armenia to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and liberate
occupied territories of fraternal Azerbaijan. We thought that problems
with the Armenians can be solved at negotiating table. There will be
no peace, stability and cooperation in the Caucasus while Karabakh
problem remains unresolved.
Turkey along with Russia is a country with an opportunity to influence
ongoing processes in the Caucasus. Once Turkey can contribute to peace
process in the Caucasus, why not to do this? The U.S. is mistaken
if it thinks that by discussing this resolution it can put pressure
on Turkey to achieve ratification of the protocols. Turkey is not a
country to cede under pressure. Turkey is the most powerful country in
the region and it should be the country that makes terms. If the U.S.
exerts pressure on Turkey because of the protocols, Turkey will
refuse to establish relations with Armenia. Then Turkey will think
about other options to establish peace in the Caucasus.
The Turkish opposition calls for withdrawal from the Turkish-Armenian
protocols. The protocols are in your commission at the moment. Will
you discuss the protocols following the recent events?
The fact that the issue of "genocide" has been raised once again proves
Armenia's insincerity in relations with Turkey. The Turkish-Armenian
protocols envisage consideration of "genocide" by a commission of
historians, but not on political arena. As strange as it may seem,
the United States, which was involved in refining the text of the
protocols, adopted a political decision on the "genocide". So,
protocols should be discussed once again. Today, the protocols are
widely discussed in Turkey. I think withdrawal from the protocols
at this stage may further aggravate the situation. We must wait for
a favourable situation. In any case, we do not want to be a country
that will bury the protocols. Let the whole world see who and what
impede normalization of relations.
There is an opinion that Armenia has made three steps against
the normalization of relations: the well-known decision of the
Constitutional Court of Armenia, the "genocide" resolution and the
lack of progress in terms of liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani
territories. Does the Turkish leadership plan to discuss these issues
with Armenia again?
As far as I know, the Turkish leadership is not in contact with
Armenia on this issue. Armenia often blamed Turkey for the delay
in ratification of the protocols. However, after the "genocide"
resolution was passed, Armenia became silent and does not push Turkey
any longer. The Armenian authorities have certainly understood their
contradictory policies. I think Turkey will eventually return to the
issue of Turkish-Armenian protocols. But the whole situation must be
clarified first.
Today
http://www.today.az/news/turkey/6 4139.html
March 16 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Member of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey (Parliament) from the ruling Justice and Development Party,
Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs
Mehmet Ceylan.
How do you assess the move by the U.S. Congress House Committee on
Foreign Relations to pass the Resolution 252 labeling the 1915 events
in the Ottoman Empire as "genocide"?
It should be noted that the "genocide" resolution is very inappropriate
and absurd project. The resolution was adopted by a margin of only one
vote. But, anyway, this is a dangerous process. The voting procedure
showed that the Armenian lobby can achieve its goal through pressure
on the Congress where Democrats, who are supporters of the "iron
democracy", make up majority.
In fact, it was a very unpleasant scene for the United States. The
actions of the U.S. Democrats can be considered "black spot" in the
history of American democracy. President Barack Obama, being aware
of this, announced that he would try to ensure that the project is
not debated by the House of Representatives. So, I think that the U.S.
will no longer take risks and bring up the resolution for discussions
by the full House. In addition, the United States is well aware that
Turkey plays an important role in regional peacekeeping programs.
Turkey is one of the great and powerful regional states.
The "genocide" resolution has caused deep resentment in the Turkish
society. The U.S. analysts emphasize that the reaction of the Turkish
public will be even stronger if the resolution gets Full House vote.
The U.S. ambassador to Turkey in his turn announced that this
resolution will not bring benefit to anyone, but cause damage to
relations between the U.S. and Turkey. This shows that the U.S. public
is not resolute in the issue of "genocide" and they have no unified
position.
It was the U.S. which asked Turkey to contribute to normalization of
relations in the Caucasus. It considered resolving problems between
Turkey and Armenia as a first step to normalize ties. But instead of
normalizing ties, the U.S. added fuel to the fire. If Americans wish
to normalize relations in the region, they have to replace their
tinderbox with barrel of water. I do not think that the U.S. will
continue the path leading to deterioration of relations with Turkey.
It is believed that the "Armenian genocide" resolution was adopted in
an attempt to exert pressure on Turkey to ratify the Turkish-Armenian
protocols. Do you share this opinion?
When we talk about normalization of relations in the Caucasus,
primarily we have in mind relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but
not the Turkish-Armenian relations. We began to normalize relations
with Armenia to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and liberate
occupied territories of fraternal Azerbaijan. We thought that problems
with the Armenians can be solved at negotiating table. There will be
no peace, stability and cooperation in the Caucasus while Karabakh
problem remains unresolved.
Turkey along with Russia is a country with an opportunity to influence
ongoing processes in the Caucasus. Once Turkey can contribute to peace
process in the Caucasus, why not to do this? The U.S. is mistaken
if it thinks that by discussing this resolution it can put pressure
on Turkey to achieve ratification of the protocols. Turkey is not a
country to cede under pressure. Turkey is the most powerful country in
the region and it should be the country that makes terms. If the U.S.
exerts pressure on Turkey because of the protocols, Turkey will
refuse to establish relations with Armenia. Then Turkey will think
about other options to establish peace in the Caucasus.
The Turkish opposition calls for withdrawal from the Turkish-Armenian
protocols. The protocols are in your commission at the moment. Will
you discuss the protocols following the recent events?
The fact that the issue of "genocide" has been raised once again proves
Armenia's insincerity in relations with Turkey. The Turkish-Armenian
protocols envisage consideration of "genocide" by a commission of
historians, but not on political arena. As strange as it may seem,
the United States, which was involved in refining the text of the
protocols, adopted a political decision on the "genocide". So,
protocols should be discussed once again. Today, the protocols are
widely discussed in Turkey. I think withdrawal from the protocols
at this stage may further aggravate the situation. We must wait for
a favourable situation. In any case, we do not want to be a country
that will bury the protocols. Let the whole world see who and what
impede normalization of relations.
There is an opinion that Armenia has made three steps against
the normalization of relations: the well-known decision of the
Constitutional Court of Armenia, the "genocide" resolution and the
lack of progress in terms of liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani
territories. Does the Turkish leadership plan to discuss these issues
with Armenia again?
As far as I know, the Turkish leadership is not in contact with
Armenia on this issue. Armenia often blamed Turkey for the delay
in ratification of the protocols. However, after the "genocide"
resolution was passed, Armenia became silent and does not push Turkey
any longer. The Armenian authorities have certainly understood their
contradictory policies. I think Turkey will eventually return to the
issue of Turkish-Armenian protocols. But the whole situation must be
clarified first.