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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Dec 6 2013
Turkish minister's visit can signal thaw with Armenia
In the first diplomatic push since Turkey and Armenia signed
normalization protocols in 2009, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is
due to visit Yerevan next week - a move that appears significant for
the restoration of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan, two
neighbours that have become estranged over several issues.
While returning from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe's (OSCE) ministerial council in Kiev on Thursday, Davutoglu
stated his attendance at the upcoming Organization of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) meeting in Yerevan next week.
The Turkish minister noted that the invitation had come from the
Armenian side and that he accepted after consulting Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Turkey is one of the founding members of the organization. Its
headquarters are located in Istanbul, where Armenia, which is a member
of the organization, also has a representative. I received the
invitation and decided to accept it after consulting the president,"
Davutoglu said.
During the OSCE meeting in Kiev, Davutoglu met with Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mammadyarov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hold
talks on the thorny Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which is key for the
resumption of Turkish relations with Armenia.
Davutoglu was not able to hold a bilateral meeting with Armenian
counterpart Eduard Nalbandyan in Kiev because the Turkish foreign
minister had a full schedule, said one senior Turkish diplomat,
speaking to Today's Zaman on condition of anonymity. Noting that it
was not clear whether Davutoglu and Nalbandyan would hold a meeting in
Yerevan, the diplomat added that a meeting between the foreign
ministers may take place nonetheless.
"Although the visit is part of the BSEC meeting, it is still very
important, as it is the first high-level visit from the Turkish side
to Armenia. The visit is also important as it comes at a time in which
Turkey has accelerated its efforts to find a path to permanent peace
in the Caucasus. The visit will enable the sides to discuss the issues
in the region," said the diplomat.
A historic reconciliation process was launched between Turkey and
Armenia in 2009, when the two sides signed twin protocols to normalize
diplomatic relations, but the move was not well received by
Azerbaijan. The protocols, signed in Zurich, shook Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations, as the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan has yet to be resolved.
The ratification of the protocols stalled after Turkey insisted
Armenia first agree to find a solution to the long-standing
Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The issue of Armenia's withdrawal from the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent territories is important to
Ankara, which has frequently signalled that this step would pave the
way for the opening of its border with Armenia.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces had occupied 20 per cent of
Azerbaijan's territory in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran Balayan also spoke to
Today's Zaman about the visit, saying: "It is the BSEC ministerial
meeting, and we sent invitations to the ministers of all BSEC member
states. That's it. In terms of Armenian-Turkish relations, we have
signed protocols; the only [further] move could be the ratification
and implementation of those protocols."
'It is never too late for peace' Turkish foreign policy experts
believe that a normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan
would lighten Turkey's foreign policy burden.
YaAŸar YakA±AŸ, a former Turkish foreign minister and current
president of the Ankara-based Centre for Strategic Communication
(STRATA°M), stated that Turkey and Armenia should do everything in
their power to find a solution to the disputes.
"However, while discussing solutions, the two countries should also
take into account the sensitivities of third parties. Previously, due
to Azerbaijan's opposition, their reconciliation couldn't be realized.
Now the sides should take lessons from the past. And if they act
according to these lessons, the chances for peace will be higher,"
YakA±AŸ told Today's Zaman.
Azdem Sanberk, a former diplomat and head of Ankara-based
International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), considers
Davutoglu's visit an important step, adding that it is an indication
that the two sides have agreed to accelerate their efforts towards a
solution for the region.
"It is hard to say whether the protocols can reach their aim, because
there are many actors involved in this issue. But the timing of the
visit is important. Any step for peace is never too late," Sanberk
told Today's Zaman.
Mehmet Fatih Aztarsu, an analyst who has lived and studied in Armenia
and specializes in the Caucasus, noted that developments might occur
after this visit if Yerevan appreciates the points made by the Turkish
side. "If Armenia reads this visit positively, a new process may start
between the two countries," Aztarsu told Today's Zaman.
Davutoglu recently stated that Turkey will do all in its power to
ensure permanent peace in the Caucasus, adding that Turkey wishes to
normalize its ties with Armenia.
"Our desire is the normalization of ties between Turkey and Armenia,
the resolution of the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the
maintenance of permanent peace in the South Caucasus," Davutoglu said.
Erdogan recently reiterated Ankara's commitment to the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, saying, "Karabakh is not just
Azerbaijan's problem, but also Turkey's problem." Diplomatic efforts
for a solution to the conflict have failed for the past 20 years, but
Azerbaijan has vowed to reclaim its territories by force if necessary.
Such a conflict has the potential to destabilize the region. It would
also hamper any attempt at normalization between Turkey and Armenia.
Ahead of the upcoming election period, the government seems to be
fine-tuning its foreign policy, and its rapprochement with Armenia may
be one aspect of this. Sanberk noted that although the government's
aim might be merely to tidy up its foreign policy image before the
elections, such moves towards Armenia are still of great importance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dec 6 2013
Turkish minister's visit can signal thaw with Armenia
In the first diplomatic push since Turkey and Armenia signed
normalization protocols in 2009, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is
due to visit Yerevan next week - a move that appears significant for
the restoration of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan, two
neighbours that have become estranged over several issues.
While returning from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe's (OSCE) ministerial council in Kiev on Thursday, Davutoglu
stated his attendance at the upcoming Organization of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) meeting in Yerevan next week.
The Turkish minister noted that the invitation had come from the
Armenian side and that he accepted after consulting Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Turkey is one of the founding members of the organization. Its
headquarters are located in Istanbul, where Armenia, which is a member
of the organization, also has a representative. I received the
invitation and decided to accept it after consulting the president,"
Davutoglu said.
During the OSCE meeting in Kiev, Davutoglu met with Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mammadyarov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hold
talks on the thorny Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which is key for the
resumption of Turkish relations with Armenia.
Davutoglu was not able to hold a bilateral meeting with Armenian
counterpart Eduard Nalbandyan in Kiev because the Turkish foreign
minister had a full schedule, said one senior Turkish diplomat,
speaking to Today's Zaman on condition of anonymity. Noting that it
was not clear whether Davutoglu and Nalbandyan would hold a meeting in
Yerevan, the diplomat added that a meeting between the foreign
ministers may take place nonetheless.
"Although the visit is part of the BSEC meeting, it is still very
important, as it is the first high-level visit from the Turkish side
to Armenia. The visit is also important as it comes at a time in which
Turkey has accelerated its efforts to find a path to permanent peace
in the Caucasus. The visit will enable the sides to discuss the issues
in the region," said the diplomat.
A historic reconciliation process was launched between Turkey and
Armenia in 2009, when the two sides signed twin protocols to normalize
diplomatic relations, but the move was not well received by
Azerbaijan. The protocols, signed in Zurich, shook Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations, as the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan has yet to be resolved.
The ratification of the protocols stalled after Turkey insisted
Armenia first agree to find a solution to the long-standing
Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The issue of Armenia's withdrawal from the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent territories is important to
Ankara, which has frequently signalled that this step would pave the
way for the opening of its border with Armenia.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces had occupied 20 per cent of
Azerbaijan's territory in 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran Balayan also spoke to
Today's Zaman about the visit, saying: "It is the BSEC ministerial
meeting, and we sent invitations to the ministers of all BSEC member
states. That's it. In terms of Armenian-Turkish relations, we have
signed protocols; the only [further] move could be the ratification
and implementation of those protocols."
'It is never too late for peace' Turkish foreign policy experts
believe that a normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan
would lighten Turkey's foreign policy burden.
YaAŸar YakA±AŸ, a former Turkish foreign minister and current
president of the Ankara-based Centre for Strategic Communication
(STRATA°M), stated that Turkey and Armenia should do everything in
their power to find a solution to the disputes.
"However, while discussing solutions, the two countries should also
take into account the sensitivities of third parties. Previously, due
to Azerbaijan's opposition, their reconciliation couldn't be realized.
Now the sides should take lessons from the past. And if they act
according to these lessons, the chances for peace will be higher,"
YakA±AŸ told Today's Zaman.
Azdem Sanberk, a former diplomat and head of Ankara-based
International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), considers
Davutoglu's visit an important step, adding that it is an indication
that the two sides have agreed to accelerate their efforts towards a
solution for the region.
"It is hard to say whether the protocols can reach their aim, because
there are many actors involved in this issue. But the timing of the
visit is important. Any step for peace is never too late," Sanberk
told Today's Zaman.
Mehmet Fatih Aztarsu, an analyst who has lived and studied in Armenia
and specializes in the Caucasus, noted that developments might occur
after this visit if Yerevan appreciates the points made by the Turkish
side. "If Armenia reads this visit positively, a new process may start
between the two countries," Aztarsu told Today's Zaman.
Davutoglu recently stated that Turkey will do all in its power to
ensure permanent peace in the Caucasus, adding that Turkey wishes to
normalize its ties with Armenia.
"Our desire is the normalization of ties between Turkey and Armenia,
the resolution of the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the
maintenance of permanent peace in the South Caucasus," Davutoglu said.
Erdogan recently reiterated Ankara's commitment to the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, saying, "Karabakh is not just
Azerbaijan's problem, but also Turkey's problem." Diplomatic efforts
for a solution to the conflict have failed for the past 20 years, but
Azerbaijan has vowed to reclaim its territories by force if necessary.
Such a conflict has the potential to destabilize the region. It would
also hamper any attempt at normalization between Turkey and Armenia.
Ahead of the upcoming election period, the government seems to be
fine-tuning its foreign policy, and its rapprochement with Armenia may
be one aspect of this. Sanberk noted that although the government's
aim might be merely to tidy up its foreign policy image before the
elections, such moves towards Armenia are still of great importance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress