ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS. PART 2. ONE-MAN SHOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 27, 2011 - 18:11 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian-Turkish protocols have been brought
back to the agenda of Turkey's parliament, what, however, was no
surprise for the Armenian side. Yerevan learned the news more than
calm, without any illusions and with knowledge that normalization of
relations with Armenia is anything but not Turkey's intention.
Several versions are being debated. Some think that the protocols
were returned under the pressure of the West, which doesn't give up
efforts to reconcile Armenia and Turkey.
On the other hand, protocols appear as a perfect leverage that can
first of all be used in relations with Azerbaijan. Actually, the
entire reconciliation process gives Ankara a good opportunity to
manipulate Baku.
Furthermore, the return of protocols coincided with Turkey's call
on Azerbaijan to join the campaign against Israel. Ankara gave to
understand that Baku "should keep in mind the possibility of problems
with Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which conveys 10-20% of the
total of volume of oil imported by Israel. Although Azerbaijan and
Israel are strategic partners and the trade turnover between the
countries exceeded $2 billion in 2010, which is twice more than that
between Israel and Turkey, Baku will hardly say "no."
In return, Ankara promises Azerbaijan to conduce to "return of occupied
Azeri lands."
It's worth noting that Azerbaijan, which was, to put it mildly,
indignant over the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process, now keeps
silent: no single word was uttered to reproach the "elder brother"
this time.
Besides, Turkey tries to press on Armenia to prevent it from
withdrawing its signature from the protocols, as suggested by some
political forces. Recently, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage party
called on the parliament to remove the protocols from the agenda,
what would be an adequate response to Turkey's decision.
There is an impression that the story with protocols is just a show
with one goal - to convince the international community that Turkey,
which is bombing Kurds in Iraq, pressing on Syria, conflicting with
Israel, imposing blockade on Cyprus and threatening it with war,
is actually a country striving for peace and "zero problems with
neighbors."
This show, however, can't deceive Armenia. Spokesman for the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov labeled Turkey's
"gesture" as a cheap trick.
Meanwhile, Yerevan doesn't rule out that Ankara drag out the
ratification process till 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
Anyway, experts and politicians are unanimous that Turkey is not
going to ratify the protocols in the near future and, consequently,
no normalization can be expected.
Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 27, 2011 - 18:11 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian-Turkish protocols have been brought
back to the agenda of Turkey's parliament, what, however, was no
surprise for the Armenian side. Yerevan learned the news more than
calm, without any illusions and with knowledge that normalization of
relations with Armenia is anything but not Turkey's intention.
Several versions are being debated. Some think that the protocols
were returned under the pressure of the West, which doesn't give up
efforts to reconcile Armenia and Turkey.
On the other hand, protocols appear as a perfect leverage that can
first of all be used in relations with Azerbaijan. Actually, the
entire reconciliation process gives Ankara a good opportunity to
manipulate Baku.
Furthermore, the return of protocols coincided with Turkey's call
on Azerbaijan to join the campaign against Israel. Ankara gave to
understand that Baku "should keep in mind the possibility of problems
with Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which conveys 10-20% of the
total of volume of oil imported by Israel. Although Azerbaijan and
Israel are strategic partners and the trade turnover between the
countries exceeded $2 billion in 2010, which is twice more than that
between Israel and Turkey, Baku will hardly say "no."
In return, Ankara promises Azerbaijan to conduce to "return of occupied
Azeri lands."
It's worth noting that Azerbaijan, which was, to put it mildly,
indignant over the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process, now keeps
silent: no single word was uttered to reproach the "elder brother"
this time.
Besides, Turkey tries to press on Armenia to prevent it from
withdrawing its signature from the protocols, as suggested by some
political forces. Recently, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage party
called on the parliament to remove the protocols from the agenda,
what would be an adequate response to Turkey's decision.
There is an impression that the story with protocols is just a show
with one goal - to convince the international community that Turkey,
which is bombing Kurds in Iraq, pressing on Syria, conflicting with
Israel, imposing blockade on Cyprus and threatening it with war,
is actually a country striving for peace and "zero problems with
neighbors."
This show, however, can't deceive Armenia. Spokesman for the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov labeled Turkey's
"gesture" as a cheap trick.
Meanwhile, Yerevan doesn't rule out that Ankara drag out the
ratification process till 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
Anyway, experts and politicians are unanimous that Turkey is not
going to ratify the protocols in the near future and, consequently,
no normalization can be expected.
Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News