Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

BAKU: I Am Not Optimistic For Progress In Karabakh Settlement

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • BAKU: I Am Not Optimistic For Progress In Karabakh Settlement

    I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC FOR PROGRESS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

    news.az
    Oct 22 2010
    Azerbaijan

    Prof. Dr. Tayyar Ari News.Az ıntervıews Prof. Dr. Tayyar Ari,
    Professor of International Relations at Uludag University in Turkey.

    How can you assess the current level of Azerbaijani-Turkish ties? And
    how would you assess the importance of the agreement on strategic
    partnership and mutual support signed recently between the presidents
    of Azerbaijan and Turkey?

    The process between Turkey and Armenia has negatively affected the
    relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, since some suspicions arose
    in the minds of the public opinions about the events. Although the
    current level of the relations is not on the desired level, it can
    be said that it's on the increase. Signature of the agreements on
    strategic partnership and mutual support is a sign of this process. In
    this context, "confidence" and "comprehension" are the key points
    for the bilateral relations.

    Confidence between both Turkic states is very important and
    very strong and should not be harmed by any behavior. And also
    comprehension of the issues (e.g. Turkish attitude towards Armenia)
    is very crucial. The decision makers of the both countries should
    create special communication links different than ordinary diplomatic
    channels. And by using these links they should explain and comprehend
    each other their positions in order to avoid misunderstandings.

    It should be noted that there is no substitute of the relations among
    Turkey and Azerbaijan, and politicians as well as journalists, public
    opinion leaders and the media should be more sensitive and responsible
    in reflecting the situation. Fortunately, on the political level both
    sides demonstrated their willingness to soup up the confidence.

    Turkish Prime Minister as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed
    their commitment to the cause of Azerbaijan public about the occupied
    territories several times.

    In this respect, the agreement of strategic partnership is a very
    important process that shows how strong their relations are and the
    relations cannot be given up or bargained. President Gul and President
    Aliyev proved their desire to enhance the relation in every level.

    This is also the sign of Turkish seriousness about the concern and
    consideration of Azerbaijan.

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed the Caucasus
    Stability and Cooperation Platform soon after the August war between
    Georgia and Russia. What do you think about the prospects of this idea?

    Actually this is a part of Turkish new foreign policy activism in the
    2000s. Still pursuing the European Union membership goal, Turkey also
    tries to create different channels in the nearby. Developing friendly
    relations with all sides is the key point for this policy. In this
    context stability in the Caucasia is very crucial for Turkey. The so
    called Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform proposed by Turkish
    Prime Minister Erdogan during the war between Georgia and Russia is
    a search to find a solution existing problems by diplomatic means
    rather than use of military force. For this purpose it was assumed
    to establish a multilateral mechanism among the concerning parties
    to maintain peace and to prevent misunderstandings. This is very
    consistent with Turkish foreign policy approach which depends on
    soft power and interdependency relations to establish multilateral
    cooperation to engage all parties. At the same time Turkey cleverly
    showed Russia and USA that it is an important player who can determine
    the rules of game and no longer it cannot be ignored. So the process
    showed that, in order to preserve stability and peace in the south
    Caucasus Turkey should be taken into account.

    The establishment of such project is another issue but both global
    powers appreciated and indicated the willingness to take part in
    this proposal. It is not able to realize in the short run, but it is
    possible in the long run, if all sides abandon their unilateral policy
    orientation which depends on playing to gain influence in the region
    against each other that is called as traditional policy behavior. In
    other words, it needs to change traditional policy minds. So it is
    only time and mentality problem.

    And how real is improvements between Turkey and Armenia in near future?

    The normalization process between Yerevan and Ankara began two
    years ago has been undermined by Yerevan's policy to disintegrate
    the problems existing between Turkey and Armenia and the problem of
    occupation of Karabakh. And also the pressure of influence inside
    and outside the Armenia, that is to say, nationalistic approaches
    and the impact of diaspora have been restricting the Yerevan's
    independent policy making capability. It is certain that Turkish
    sides is willing to make progress by a parallel process to end the
    occupation of Azerbaijan territories and to promote a solution for
    the problem of Upper-Karabakh, but Armenian side is very tight to
    bound itself to nationalistic policies as mentioned above and it may
    think that as an illusion by manipulating the process and taking the
    support of historical allies from the West can attain its historical
    claims and prolong the occupation in Karabakh region. But it is not
    possible to maintain occupation in Azerbaijan territories forever by
    playing such illusionary foreign support.

    Consequently, the fate of the relations between Turkey and Armenia
    depends on the sincere of Yerevan and its will to solve the problems
    with Turkey including the Karabakh issue. Since Yerevan refrains
    itself for the solution of the Karabakh issue, it's hard to expect any
    further development for the relations with Turkey in the near future.

    The Karabakh issue is becoming a heavy burden for Armenia which located
    between Turkey and Azerbaijan and unless a just solution isn't found,
    Armenia would hardly live in a peaceful environment.

    President Gul has again announced in Baku that Ankara accepts the
    occupation of the Azerbaijani lands as its own problem. Can we hope
    for Turkey's further efforts in the resolution of this conflict?

    President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan reiterated by several occasion
    on Turkish standpoint about the prerequisite of Turkish side that
    is the end of occupation could only be main imperative to further
    the relations between Ankara and Yerevan. This Turkish position is
    undoubtedly clear and shared by Turkish public opinion including
    the opposition parties and supported strongly. Therefore, there is
    no reason to doubt about Turkish sincerity towards the problems of
    Azerbaijan people. We strongly believe that Turkish determination
    about the solution of Karabakh problem is to way to attain conclusive
    and lasting peace in the South Caucasus. For this purpose Turkey is
    willing to make contribution to every opportunity and occasion to
    find comprehensive peace for regional issues by cooperation among
    the regional and global actors.

    Can we expect that Turkey will always take in account Azerbaijani
    interests in improvement process with Armenia?

    As noted above, Turkish position is undoubtedly clear and this
    honest and positive approach which is one of basic principle of
    Turkish foreign policy will be pursued consistently. No need to
    have suspicion about the Turkish support of Azerbaijan. As long as
    Armenian government would not indicate a positive willingness to end
    the occupation and determination of the status of Karabakh, Turkey
    as promised to Azerbaijan will not approve the protocols nor will it
    open the borders.

    What are the prospects of the Karabakh settlement?

    As we indicated above, to find solutions in regional issues including
    Karabakh problem and the historical claims of Armenians toward
    Turkey are obstructing to develop multilateral cooperation and mutual
    dependency relation in the region.

    But internal and external developments which influence Armenia prevent
    further development for the normalization process and the solution
    of Karabakh problem, particularly nationalistic approach inside and
    the pressure of diaspora are main barriers for development in the
    line of peace for both issues. So, I am not optimistic for progress
    because the uncertainty of positions of global actors such as Russia
    and the United States.




    From: A. Papazian
Working...
X