Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Turkey's Vision For The Caucasus

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Turkey's Vision For The Caucasus

    TURKEY'S VISION FOR THE CAUCASUS

    PoliGazette
    September 24, 2008 @ 9:21 pm CEST
    Netherlands

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan explained in an article for
    the International Herald Tribune what he and his fellow members of
    the Erdogan administration want to do about the situation in the
    caucus. The plan is bold, innovative, and on the main positive,
    but there are some serious 'buts' Turkey should keep in mind before
    putting its plan into action.

    The basics of the plan are as follows: Turkey will become an important
    regional player. It will establish a good relationship with all
    countries in the region. This includes Armenia and Russia.

    In its role as 'friend of all,' Turkey will encourage trust and
    understanding among the other countries in the region. This includes
    between Georgia and Russia and between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

    Lastly, an organization will be created whose goal it is to bring
    stability to the region and solve conflicts before they can run out
    of hand. This organization will be called the Caucasus Stability and
    Cooperation Platform (CSCP).

    Babacan explains that President Gul visited Armenia and Azerbaijan
    recently for the purposes described above. "President Abdullah Gul
    visited Yerevan on Sept. 6 to watch the World Cup qualifier match
    between the Turkish and Armenian soccer teams. This was an historic
    first step to break the barriers that have prevented our two nations
    from getting closer to each other," he wrote.

    Adding: "During the visit to Yerevan, the Armenian and Turkish
    presidents extensively discussed the security situation in the
    Caucasus, the prospects for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
    relations and the ways and means to achieve such normalization in
    the nearest future."

    "Third, as the process of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations
    moves ahead, we must not spare our efforts to find a resolution of
    the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. These two processes have a mutually
    reinforcing character - any positive development on one would
    significantly have a stimulating effect on the other," he went on
    to write.

    "Gul, after his visit to Yerevan, traveled to Baku on Sept. 10
    to inquire whether Turkey could facilitate the resolution of
    Nagorno-Karabakh problem. We observe the commitment in Baku, as well
    as in Yerevan, to bring a lasting solution to the conflict between
    Azerbaijan and Armenia. In this context, it is necessary once more to
    underline the importance of a constructive and comprehensive approach
    to resolving the problems in the Caucasus region."

    And this is where the problems set in:

    1. Armenia has waged an anti-Turkey campaign for years. The country's
    leadership itself and the Diaspora have nearly destroyed Turkey's
    image. Restoring relations with this country, then, may actually
    reward them for their hatred towards all things Turkey

    2. Such a move may be interpreted by some as an admission that Turkey
    has historically been wrong, and Armenia right. They will then demand
    that Turkey will give in even more

    3. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is, most likely,
    unresolvable. At least for the time being. The propaganda in both
    countries about Ngoro-Karabagh is of such nature that it's difficult if
    not impossible to imagine that they'll come to a compromise, or even a
    mild understanding. If Turkey, then, tries to broker a deal, and does
    so publicly, between the two nations, it may very well lose credibility

    4. Turkey will not be considered an objective broker by most
    Armenians. It's much like the U.S. trying to broker a deal between
    Israelis and Palestinians. To the latter, the U.S. is either a puppet
    or a master of the former. As such, it is very conceivable that every
    suggestion Turkey makes will be dismissed out of hand

    5. As for the situation between Russia and Georgia and other countries
    in the region: In the end, Russia will do what it considers in its own
    interest. Whether Turkey and the other countries in the region agree
    is of little to no concern to Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev. If
    one agrees with this reasoning, one cannot but wonder what the use
    of an organization, as proposed by Turkey, is

    6. Won't this organization collide with other organizations?

    As said, I tend to support any initiative that would result in Turkey
    playing a bigger role in the region, but the Turkish government should
    keep in mind that its plan is not without weaknesses. These issues
    should be talked about.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X