EXPERT BLOG: TURKEY PLANS 'BIG GAME'
Friday,
November
15
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in an interview with
Turkish NTV Company that "it is necessary to overcome Armenia's
distrust of us, but in order to start a new stage, we cannot but take
into account Azerbaijan's just demands".
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey plans
a' big game', through which it hopes to neutralize the strong pressure
it expects, especially in 2015. Turkey spends quite large sums with
this aim and does not conceal that.
Although Turkey tries to demonstrate, especially in the recent period,
that it makes efforts to find ways of normalizing Armenian-Turkish
relations, it is obvious in all cases its statements and 'semi-steps'
are part of the plans being carried out ahead of 2015.
As regards the 'distrust', it was an important admission since
the problem of lack of trust is one of the main obstacles to the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and the continuation
of the launched but incomplete talks. And the deficit of trust is
noticeable in both Armenian-Turkish relations and Turkey's relations
with the countries which were directly or indirectly involved in the
process launched in 2009.
To restore the lost trust and make the process active, Turkey should
first of all prove that the 'sincerity' is not conditioned by the
steps that the Armenians plan to take ahead of the 100th anniversary
of the Genocide , while Azerbaijan is isolated from the process or
its influence on Turkey is reduced to a minimum. It will be quite
difficult to do it, against the background of the current as well as
expected developments.
If Turkey really wants to normalize its relations with Armenia and
restore trust, it can open the Armenian-Turkish border as the first
step and also stop its steps on supporting Azerbaijan's destructive
policy on the Karabakh conflict.
TODAY, 19:06
Aysor.am
From: Baghdasarian
Friday,
November
15
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in an interview with
Turkish NTV Company that "it is necessary to overcome Armenia's
distrust of us, but in order to start a new stage, we cannot but take
into account Azerbaijan's just demands".
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey plans
a' big game', through which it hopes to neutralize the strong pressure
it expects, especially in 2015. Turkey spends quite large sums with
this aim and does not conceal that.
Although Turkey tries to demonstrate, especially in the recent period,
that it makes efforts to find ways of normalizing Armenian-Turkish
relations, it is obvious in all cases its statements and 'semi-steps'
are part of the plans being carried out ahead of 2015.
As regards the 'distrust', it was an important admission since
the problem of lack of trust is one of the main obstacles to the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and the continuation
of the launched but incomplete talks. And the deficit of trust is
noticeable in both Armenian-Turkish relations and Turkey's relations
with the countries which were directly or indirectly involved in the
process launched in 2009.
To restore the lost trust and make the process active, Turkey should
first of all prove that the 'sincerity' is not conditioned by the
steps that the Armenians plan to take ahead of the 100th anniversary
of the Genocide , while Azerbaijan is isolated from the process or
its influence on Turkey is reduced to a minimum. It will be quite
difficult to do it, against the background of the current as well as
expected developments.
If Turkey really wants to normalize its relations with Armenia and
restore trust, it can open the Armenian-Turkish border as the first
step and also stop its steps on supporting Azerbaijan's destructive
policy on the Karabakh conflict.
TODAY, 19:06
Aysor.am
From: Baghdasarian