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TURKEY AND NEIGHBORS: DISASTER DIPLOMACY
by Giorgi Lomsadze
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64360
Oct 24 2011
NY
The tremors that rippled through the South Caucasus from neighboring
Turkey's powerful October 23 earthquake brought with them a diplomatic
opportunity. But not all offers of help have managed to cross the
region's political fault lines.
"Thanks, but we should be fine," Ankara told Armenia, the world's least
Turkish-friendly country -- and one well acquainted with earthquakes --
after Yerevan offered to help.
By no stretch of the imagination would aid cooperation fix the
outstanding issues in Turkish-Armenian relations, but it might
have had symbolic value. After all, more than 100 years ago,
it was the city of Van -- now hit hard by the earthquake --
that was the epicenter of the 1894-1896 massacre of ethnic
Armenians, a disaster bitterly begrudged by Armenians to this
day. (For the official Turkish view about what happened, see:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/massacres-by-the-armenians-against-the-turks.en.mfa.)
But Turkey was not ready to have that symbolism exploited and have a
positive moment with Armenia. Instead, Ankara indicated that, at times
like these, it would rely on itself and good friends like Azerbaijan.
Three planes carrying emergency assistance and aid workers have been
dispatched to Turkey from Azerbaijan.
Georgia, which falls into the pretty-much-a-friend category, said
aid to Turkey would be available upon request.
by Giorgi Lomsadze
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64360
Oct 24 2011
NY
The tremors that rippled through the South Caucasus from neighboring
Turkey's powerful October 23 earthquake brought with them a diplomatic
opportunity. But not all offers of help have managed to cross the
region's political fault lines.
"Thanks, but we should be fine," Ankara told Armenia, the world's least
Turkish-friendly country -- and one well acquainted with earthquakes --
after Yerevan offered to help.
By no stretch of the imagination would aid cooperation fix the
outstanding issues in Turkish-Armenian relations, but it might
have had symbolic value. After all, more than 100 years ago,
it was the city of Van -- now hit hard by the earthquake --
that was the epicenter of the 1894-1896 massacre of ethnic
Armenians, a disaster bitterly begrudged by Armenians to this
day. (For the official Turkish view about what happened, see:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/massacres-by-the-armenians-against-the-turks.en.mfa.)
But Turkey was not ready to have that symbolism exploited and have a
positive moment with Armenia. Instead, Ankara indicated that, at times
like these, it would rely on itself and good friends like Azerbaijan.
Three planes carrying emergency assistance and aid workers have been
dispatched to Turkey from Azerbaijan.
Georgia, which falls into the pretty-much-a-friend category, said
aid to Turkey would be available upon request.