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AZERBAIJAN SHOULD RELY ON 'SOUND PRAGMATISM' IN TIES WITH TURKEY
Akper Hasanov News.Az
news.az
Sept 14 2010
Azerbaijan
Araz Alizade News.Az interviews the chairman of the Social Democratic
Party of Azerbaijan, Araz Alizade.
How would you comment on the results of the referendum on amendments
to the constitution in Turkey?
The developments were expected. The referendum on amendments to the
Turkish constitution is a small step towards democracy as it limits
the army's potential to interfere in the political life of the state.
But at the same time the ruling party of Turkey may be strengthened
by the result of the referendum and rule the country for a long time.
Despite the declarations of the Turkish leadership, the country will
move not towards Europe with its values, but towards the Islamic world.
Then why did the European Union welcome the results of the referendum
in Turkey?
It is not that simple. Most of the 26 amendments, whether supported
or not by the citizens of Turkey, have been approved by the EU which
Turkey would like to join. The EU has got what it wanted. I am sure
that they will make new demands on Turkey but will never admit Turkey
to the EU. On the contrary, the EU is actually well aware that after
the referendum Turkey will move toward the Islamic world. And this
is what the organization will cite as the reason for its further
unwillingness to admit Turkey. The EU will benefit completely:
Turkey has accepted the recommended amendments to the constitution,
and at the same time has chosen a way of further development which
will give the EU grounds to reject its membership.
Is Turkey likely to recognize the Armenian claims of genocide in the
Ottoman Empire?
Certainly not. Armenians worldwide demand not only that Turkey
recognize the mythical "Armenian Genocide" in the Ottoman Empire but
also pay compensation of several hundreds of billions of dollars. In
addition, they will also use all means to make claims on Turkish land,
for example, on six provinces in the country.
How may the referendum affect Turkish-Azerbaijani relations?
Azerbaijan needs to separate emotions from pragmatism and to conduct
an equal, mutually profitable policy towards Turkey, as it does with
any other state. We have already seen the readiness of the current
leadership of Turkey to ignore the interests of Azerbaijan when
the Turkish-Armenian dialogue started. The parties even signed the
Turkish-Armenian protocols in Zurich. If the Azerbaijani leadership,
in the person of our president Ilham Aliyev, had not taken a firm,
tough position on this issue, it is not clear where relations between
Turkey and Armenia would be now, even though Armenia is disregarding
the norms of international law and occupying one-fifth of our land.
The Turkish leadership acted pragmatically, realizing the losses the
state would incur as a result of ignoring Azerbaijan's interests and
allowing other motives to dominate. Therefore, we must rely on sound
pragmatism in relations with Turkey.
From: A. Papazian
Akper Hasanov News.Az
news.az
Sept 14 2010
Azerbaijan
Araz Alizade News.Az interviews the chairman of the Social Democratic
Party of Azerbaijan, Araz Alizade.
How would you comment on the results of the referendum on amendments
to the constitution in Turkey?
The developments were expected. The referendum on amendments to the
Turkish constitution is a small step towards democracy as it limits
the army's potential to interfere in the political life of the state.
But at the same time the ruling party of Turkey may be strengthened
by the result of the referendum and rule the country for a long time.
Despite the declarations of the Turkish leadership, the country will
move not towards Europe with its values, but towards the Islamic world.
Then why did the European Union welcome the results of the referendum
in Turkey?
It is not that simple. Most of the 26 amendments, whether supported
or not by the citizens of Turkey, have been approved by the EU which
Turkey would like to join. The EU has got what it wanted. I am sure
that they will make new demands on Turkey but will never admit Turkey
to the EU. On the contrary, the EU is actually well aware that after
the referendum Turkey will move toward the Islamic world. And this
is what the organization will cite as the reason for its further
unwillingness to admit Turkey. The EU will benefit completely:
Turkey has accepted the recommended amendments to the constitution,
and at the same time has chosen a way of further development which
will give the EU grounds to reject its membership.
Is Turkey likely to recognize the Armenian claims of genocide in the
Ottoman Empire?
Certainly not. Armenians worldwide demand not only that Turkey
recognize the mythical "Armenian Genocide" in the Ottoman Empire but
also pay compensation of several hundreds of billions of dollars. In
addition, they will also use all means to make claims on Turkish land,
for example, on six provinces in the country.
How may the referendum affect Turkish-Azerbaijani relations?
Azerbaijan needs to separate emotions from pragmatism and to conduct
an equal, mutually profitable policy towards Turkey, as it does with
any other state. We have already seen the readiness of the current
leadership of Turkey to ignore the interests of Azerbaijan when
the Turkish-Armenian dialogue started. The parties even signed the
Turkish-Armenian protocols in Zurich. If the Azerbaijani leadership,
in the person of our president Ilham Aliyev, had not taken a firm,
tough position on this issue, it is not clear where relations between
Turkey and Armenia would be now, even though Armenia is disregarding
the norms of international law and occupying one-fifth of our land.
The Turkish leadership acted pragmatically, realizing the losses the
state would incur as a result of ignoring Azerbaijan's interests and
allowing other motives to dominate. Therefore, we must rely on sound
pragmatism in relations with Turkey.
From: A. Papazian