Turkey Dragged into War
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview23111.html
Published: 11:59:23 - 27/08/2011
Turkey has withdrawn the Zurich protocols from the agenda of the
parliament. In fact, there is no process of normalization of Armenian
and Turkish relations. The political scientist Igor Muradyan commented
Turkey's decision and why it happens now.
I have stated that the process of `normalization' is not intended to
reach that goal as such but to restrain Turkey's expansion, first of
all in the direction of the region, it is part of the U.S. strategy.
Before the Armenian issue, the relations between Turkey and Armenia
were not so dynamic, and the Armenian factor needed some focus and
importance. It was successfully done, and Armenia, together with the
cluster of the Armenian issues, was given a more significant role in
the U.S. large-scale policy of restraining Turkey which involves both
cooperation with and blockade of this country.
I should say at once that my opinion on this U.S. strategy is
positive, although it will cause tensions in the region, posing
threats and risks to Armenia but for the time being it is an essential
premise to the independent foreign policy of Armenia.
The Turkish-Armenian relations are not separate from the regional
policy, it is closely related to, or rather juxtaposed with a series
of problems in the region which the United States has successfully
arranged toward restraining Turkey. No matter in what direction Turkey
tries to expand, serious problems will occur which will engage Turkey
in big and small military conflicts.
It seems to be an undeniable fact that the Arab revolutions have
enhanced not just Turkey's blockade but its isolation in the Near East
where Ankara bets on the neo-Ottoman policy. Turkey's efforts to
integrate in the Kurdish space, including Iraqi Kurdistan, led to an
escalating confrontation with the Kurds. We witnessed shattering of
Turk-Iranian relations, creation of a stronger Shia area on the way of
Turkish expansion in the result of aggravation of relations of Syria
and Iran, and soon also Iraq.
Turkey soon understood that the United States and Europe will prevent
realization of its main goal regarding the Armenian direction, i.e.
final neutralization of the Armenian issue which remains an important
leverage of the Western community on Turkey.
Turkey does not need normalization with Armenia if the Armenian issue
maintains its place in world politics. Besides, it should be taken
into account that Turkey is `stuck' in the Near East for a long time,
where it is dragged into a large-scale war or military conflict,
therefore Turkey has no opportunity to activate its own policies,
neither in the South Caucasus, nor in the Balkans, not even in Central
Asia.
At the same time, a serious economic crisis is expected in Turkey
which it already bewares. One way or another, Turkey has already
partly, or rather demonstratively, `returned' under the U.S. control
though it hopes to continue its own foreign policy.In this situation,
Ankara cannot allow doubts about its policy on Armenia, more exactly
the Armenian issue. In regard to this issue, everything must be
certain and cause no doubt because the Armenia issue which the foreign
parties, even partners may manipulate is not just a matter of foreign
policies but Turkey's territorial integrity, Igor Muradyan said.
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/interview23111.html
Published: 11:59:23 - 27/08/2011
Turkey has withdrawn the Zurich protocols from the agenda of the
parliament. In fact, there is no process of normalization of Armenian
and Turkish relations. The political scientist Igor Muradyan commented
Turkey's decision and why it happens now.
I have stated that the process of `normalization' is not intended to
reach that goal as such but to restrain Turkey's expansion, first of
all in the direction of the region, it is part of the U.S. strategy.
Before the Armenian issue, the relations between Turkey and Armenia
were not so dynamic, and the Armenian factor needed some focus and
importance. It was successfully done, and Armenia, together with the
cluster of the Armenian issues, was given a more significant role in
the U.S. large-scale policy of restraining Turkey which involves both
cooperation with and blockade of this country.
I should say at once that my opinion on this U.S. strategy is
positive, although it will cause tensions in the region, posing
threats and risks to Armenia but for the time being it is an essential
premise to the independent foreign policy of Armenia.
The Turkish-Armenian relations are not separate from the regional
policy, it is closely related to, or rather juxtaposed with a series
of problems in the region which the United States has successfully
arranged toward restraining Turkey. No matter in what direction Turkey
tries to expand, serious problems will occur which will engage Turkey
in big and small military conflicts.
It seems to be an undeniable fact that the Arab revolutions have
enhanced not just Turkey's blockade but its isolation in the Near East
where Ankara bets on the neo-Ottoman policy. Turkey's efforts to
integrate in the Kurdish space, including Iraqi Kurdistan, led to an
escalating confrontation with the Kurds. We witnessed shattering of
Turk-Iranian relations, creation of a stronger Shia area on the way of
Turkish expansion in the result of aggravation of relations of Syria
and Iran, and soon also Iraq.
Turkey soon understood that the United States and Europe will prevent
realization of its main goal regarding the Armenian direction, i.e.
final neutralization of the Armenian issue which remains an important
leverage of the Western community on Turkey.
Turkey does not need normalization with Armenia if the Armenian issue
maintains its place in world politics. Besides, it should be taken
into account that Turkey is `stuck' in the Near East for a long time,
where it is dragged into a large-scale war or military conflict,
therefore Turkey has no opportunity to activate its own policies,
neither in the South Caucasus, nor in the Balkans, not even in Central
Asia.
At the same time, a serious economic crisis is expected in Turkey
which it already bewares. One way or another, Turkey has already
partly, or rather demonstratively, `returned' under the U.S. control
though it hopes to continue its own foreign policy.In this situation,
Ankara cannot allow doubts about its policy on Armenia, more exactly
the Armenian issue. In regard to this issue, everything must be
certain and cause no doubt because the Armenia issue which the foreign
parties, even partners may manipulate is not just a matter of foreign
policies but Turkey's territorial integrity, Igor Muradyan said.