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Today's Zaman, Turkey
July 24 2011
Experts welcome visit by Armenian CSOs, but raise doubts on effects
24 July 2011, Sunday / CEREN KUMOVA, ANKARA
Last Monday's visit of five civil society organizations (CSO) from
Armenia to the Turkish Foreign Ministry raised hopes with experts, but
possible effects of the visit on Armenian foreign policy still remain
to be seen, leaving many doubts on the future of relations between the
two countries.
The visit by the representatives of five CSOs, organized by the
Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), is
considered another brick to fill in the gap, even though the prospect
of a serious change brought on by civil organizations looks dim in the
current political environment.
The gap between the neighbors has existed for decades as political
roadmaps in the past consistently ran into dead ends for both sides.
Although the official process remains shackled, experts consider
visits from the CSOs a slow but steady contribution on the long road
to normalized relations.
Professor Kamer Kasım, vice chairman of the Ankara-based International
Strategic Research Organization (USAK), thinks it is a good sign that
the representatives of the five CSOs met with Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu. The effect of these meetings could bear the power to
finally convince Armenia to initiate a transformation.
`It is very hard to penetrate Armenia,' Kasım told Today's Zaman,
noting the anticipated effects of the visit on the Armenian
politicians. `The country is under pressure from the most radical
diasporas and the authoritarian structure puts a strain on its
democracy. But a meeting is always significant in that it has the
potential to at least initiate transformation,' said the expert.
Sounding more pessimistic on concrete solutions on a diplomatic level,
Kasım warned that a solution may not be available unless Armenia
agrees to halt its efforts seeking international recognition for the
alleged genocide and develop a different stance on the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem, developments that may simply take too long
to happen at the current pace, if they ever do.
Restating the fragility of ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan with
regard to any possible bargain with Armenia, Kasım said Turkey should
opt for making itself as clear as possible in talks with both
countries to spare everyone the possible damage. `With both sides
having so much to consider, the solution is going to take much
effort,' Kasım said.
Relations between Turkey and Armenia seemed to have improved at
certain times in the past but Turkey refuses to strike a deal with the
country if the deal does not extend to the troublesome
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and Azerbaijani rights to the area. Similarly,
Armenia's international campaign for the recognition the alleged
genocide riles both sides as April 24 -- the memorial day for the mass
killings -- approaches every year. `One problem I see with these
meetings is that they always happen in Turkey and that parties already
in favor of improving relations attend them,' Hasan Kanbolat, chairman
of the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM), told
Today's Zaman, while calling for something to be initiated to bring
more radical voices together.
Kanbolat suggested that these meetings might function to melt the ice
between the people, who are not too different from one another in many
aspects, saying, `It is not uncommon for a radical from the Armenian
diaspora to enjoy a fine dinner along the Bosporus and change his mind
about Turkey and its people's attitude toward Armenians.'
Despite the burden of hyper-sensitivities and conditional handshakes,
experts still see the light and remain hopeful. `CSOs may not have
much power in Armenian politics, but things will just have to improve
one step at a time,' Kanbolat stated.
July 24 2011
Experts welcome visit by Armenian CSOs, but raise doubts on effects
24 July 2011, Sunday / CEREN KUMOVA, ANKARA
Last Monday's visit of five civil society organizations (CSO) from
Armenia to the Turkish Foreign Ministry raised hopes with experts, but
possible effects of the visit on Armenian foreign policy still remain
to be seen, leaving many doubts on the future of relations between the
two countries.
The visit by the representatives of five CSOs, organized by the
Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), is
considered another brick to fill in the gap, even though the prospect
of a serious change brought on by civil organizations looks dim in the
current political environment.
The gap between the neighbors has existed for decades as political
roadmaps in the past consistently ran into dead ends for both sides.
Although the official process remains shackled, experts consider
visits from the CSOs a slow but steady contribution on the long road
to normalized relations.
Professor Kamer Kasım, vice chairman of the Ankara-based International
Strategic Research Organization (USAK), thinks it is a good sign that
the representatives of the five CSOs met with Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu. The effect of these meetings could bear the power to
finally convince Armenia to initiate a transformation.
`It is very hard to penetrate Armenia,' Kasım told Today's Zaman,
noting the anticipated effects of the visit on the Armenian
politicians. `The country is under pressure from the most radical
diasporas and the authoritarian structure puts a strain on its
democracy. But a meeting is always significant in that it has the
potential to at least initiate transformation,' said the expert.
Sounding more pessimistic on concrete solutions on a diplomatic level,
Kasım warned that a solution may not be available unless Armenia
agrees to halt its efforts seeking international recognition for the
alleged genocide and develop a different stance on the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem, developments that may simply take too long
to happen at the current pace, if they ever do.
Restating the fragility of ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan with
regard to any possible bargain with Armenia, Kasım said Turkey should
opt for making itself as clear as possible in talks with both
countries to spare everyone the possible damage. `With both sides
having so much to consider, the solution is going to take much
effort,' Kasım said.
Relations between Turkey and Armenia seemed to have improved at
certain times in the past but Turkey refuses to strike a deal with the
country if the deal does not extend to the troublesome
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and Azerbaijani rights to the area. Similarly,
Armenia's international campaign for the recognition the alleged
genocide riles both sides as April 24 -- the memorial day for the mass
killings -- approaches every year. `One problem I see with these
meetings is that they always happen in Turkey and that parties already
in favor of improving relations attend them,' Hasan Kanbolat, chairman
of the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM), told
Today's Zaman, while calling for something to be initiated to bring
more radical voices together.
Kanbolat suggested that these meetings might function to melt the ice
between the people, who are not too different from one another in many
aspects, saying, `It is not uncommon for a radical from the Armenian
diaspora to enjoy a fine dinner along the Bosporus and change his mind
about Turkey and its people's attitude toward Armenians.'
Despite the burden of hyper-sensitivities and conditional handshakes,
experts still see the light and remain hopeful. `CSOs may not have
much power in Armenian politics, but things will just have to improve
one step at a time,' Kanbolat stated.