Tweet
'ARMENIA ITSELF FROZE NORMALIZATION OF TIES WITH TURKEY'
news.az
Nov 30 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Turkish political scientist Murat Yesiltas.
How do you assess the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
after putting Armenian-Turkish protocols back to the agenda?
Normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations is very important not
only to the interests of both countries, but also in terms of regional
stability and security. "The Arab Spring" not only become a specific
test for Turkey in formation of country image as a carrier of peace
in the region but also it revealed that peace is impossible to achieve
without Turkey.
It is clear that the Armenian-Turkish relations are not a minor factor
in the light of processes currently ongoing in the region. However,
this process, both in Turkey and Armenia, is perceived as a matter of
domestic policy. All the same, as we know, this process is perceived
more painfully in Armenia. As for Turkey, here this issue has become
more complicated since this process on the one hand creates pressure
for domestic policy, and on the other hand it has the potential
to affect Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. This situation was openly
demonstrated over the past three years.
Azerbaijan and Turkey are struggling with the Armenian lobby. In this
fighting Turkey was forced to make many concessions to the United
States and Israel. Therefore, the Armenian-Turkish protocols in this
context should not be taken in the Turkish Parliament as an abnormal
case. The situation remains the same - Turkey, claiming the role of
the state, which plays an important role in the region, has to face
serious pressure.
So, does the fact of removal of Armenian-Turkish protocols from the
agenda of the Turkish parliament and their repeated inclusion on the
agenda mean that the policy of the Turkish government has failed?
It would be wrong to believe that the Turkey's policy of 'Zero problems
with neighbors' has failed. This policy primarily bases on definite
principles. Even if these principles are taken as the main components
of the foreign policy of the states, some problems won't be reduced
to minimum anyway. Turkish-Armenian relations should be viewed in this
very context. Armenia's public opinion is very sensitive regarding this
issue. Armenia views this issue only in terms of opening borders with
Turkey, though it was because the sensitivity of the Armenian side,
it was their fault that the process was frozen.
What political forces in Turkey tend more to normalizing ties with
Armenia?
The sensitive attitude of some Turkish regions to Azerbaijan and their
prejudice against Armenia promotes specific resistance to normalization
of the Turkish-Armenian ties. Certainly, this does not mean that the
Turkish government is also sensitive to Azerbaijan. The government
formed from the ruling party of Justice and Development leads the
powers that are eager to normalize relations with Armenia.
However, the party faced some difficulties in this issue. This is
an important matter for them in both attaining regional order and
preservation of peace.
Which role does the process of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations
play in Karabakh settlement?
In the start of the process intensification on normalization of ties
and active involvement of diplomatic mechanisms Turkey set a number
of provisions. The main term was liberation of the Azerbaijani lands
occupied by Armenians. Turkey indirectly bound itself to the solution
of Karabakh conflict by setting the provision of Armenia's withdrawal
from occupied lands. The normalization of relations might have direct
impact on Karabakh problem. However, the resolution of this issue
does not depend only on Turkey and Armenia.
This is a regional problem which involves Turkey and Azerbaijan and
where interests of US and Russia also intersect. Normalization of the
Turkish-Armenian relations and resolution of the Karabakh conflict
are interconnected. If a positive contribution is made to Karabakh
conflict settlement, the relations between Turkey and Armenia will
be normalized. And vice versa, if negative things occur in Karabakh
settlement, it will affect the Turkish-Armenian ties.
Is new war real between Azerbaijan and Armenia?
It is now difficult to make the forecast. Over the past 20 years
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been independent and represented in
international policy. Armenia's economy is in a disastrous state.
Armenia still views Turkey and Azerbaijan as its enemies. Therefore,
Armenia has to spend more funds on defence. This in turn promotes
migration processes from this country. Meanwhile, in terms of energy
sources, Azerbaijan is a very rich country. Additionally, such a
strong country as Turkey is next to Azerbaijan. But I have to note
that anyway Azerbaijan and Armenia still have the unsettled dispute.
The current situation gives a ground to state that a new war between
Azerbaijan and Armenia is unreal.
news.az
Nov 30 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Turkish political scientist Murat Yesiltas.
How do you assess the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
after putting Armenian-Turkish protocols back to the agenda?
Normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations is very important not
only to the interests of both countries, but also in terms of regional
stability and security. "The Arab Spring" not only become a specific
test for Turkey in formation of country image as a carrier of peace
in the region but also it revealed that peace is impossible to achieve
without Turkey.
It is clear that the Armenian-Turkish relations are not a minor factor
in the light of processes currently ongoing in the region. However,
this process, both in Turkey and Armenia, is perceived as a matter of
domestic policy. All the same, as we know, this process is perceived
more painfully in Armenia. As for Turkey, here this issue has become
more complicated since this process on the one hand creates pressure
for domestic policy, and on the other hand it has the potential
to affect Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. This situation was openly
demonstrated over the past three years.
Azerbaijan and Turkey are struggling with the Armenian lobby. In this
fighting Turkey was forced to make many concessions to the United
States and Israel. Therefore, the Armenian-Turkish protocols in this
context should not be taken in the Turkish Parliament as an abnormal
case. The situation remains the same - Turkey, claiming the role of
the state, which plays an important role in the region, has to face
serious pressure.
So, does the fact of removal of Armenian-Turkish protocols from the
agenda of the Turkish parliament and their repeated inclusion on the
agenda mean that the policy of the Turkish government has failed?
It would be wrong to believe that the Turkey's policy of 'Zero problems
with neighbors' has failed. This policy primarily bases on definite
principles. Even if these principles are taken as the main components
of the foreign policy of the states, some problems won't be reduced
to minimum anyway. Turkish-Armenian relations should be viewed in this
very context. Armenia's public opinion is very sensitive regarding this
issue. Armenia views this issue only in terms of opening borders with
Turkey, though it was because the sensitivity of the Armenian side,
it was their fault that the process was frozen.
What political forces in Turkey tend more to normalizing ties with
Armenia?
The sensitive attitude of some Turkish regions to Azerbaijan and their
prejudice against Armenia promotes specific resistance to normalization
of the Turkish-Armenian ties. Certainly, this does not mean that the
Turkish government is also sensitive to Azerbaijan. The government
formed from the ruling party of Justice and Development leads the
powers that are eager to normalize relations with Armenia.
However, the party faced some difficulties in this issue. This is
an important matter for them in both attaining regional order and
preservation of peace.
Which role does the process of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations
play in Karabakh settlement?
In the start of the process intensification on normalization of ties
and active involvement of diplomatic mechanisms Turkey set a number
of provisions. The main term was liberation of the Azerbaijani lands
occupied by Armenians. Turkey indirectly bound itself to the solution
of Karabakh conflict by setting the provision of Armenia's withdrawal
from occupied lands. The normalization of relations might have direct
impact on Karabakh problem. However, the resolution of this issue
does not depend only on Turkey and Armenia.
This is a regional problem which involves Turkey and Azerbaijan and
where interests of US and Russia also intersect. Normalization of the
Turkish-Armenian relations and resolution of the Karabakh conflict
are interconnected. If a positive contribution is made to Karabakh
conflict settlement, the relations between Turkey and Armenia will
be normalized. And vice versa, if negative things occur in Karabakh
settlement, it will affect the Turkish-Armenian ties.
Is new war real between Azerbaijan and Armenia?
It is now difficult to make the forecast. Over the past 20 years
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been independent and represented in
international policy. Armenia's economy is in a disastrous state.
Armenia still views Turkey and Azerbaijan as its enemies. Therefore,
Armenia has to spend more funds on defence. This in turn promotes
migration processes from this country. Meanwhile, in terms of energy
sources, Azerbaijan is a very rich country. Additionally, such a
strong country as Turkey is next to Azerbaijan. But I have to note
that anyway Azerbaijan and Armenia still have the unsettled dispute.
The current situation gives a ground to state that a new war between
Azerbaijan and Armenia is unreal.