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ANKARA: Armenian Tragedy, But Who Is Responsible?

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  • ANKARA: Armenian Tragedy, But Who Is Responsible?

    Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
    Jan 1 2005

    Armenian Tragedy, But Who Is Responsible?
    View: Jan SOYKOK (JTW), 2 December 2005

    Newly independent Republic of Armenia is a landlocked country.
    Armenia is surrounded by 100 million Turkish (Azerbaijan, Turkey and
    Iranian Azerbaijan) and Georgia. It has no significant natural
    resources and fertile territories. Its population relatively low,
    about 3 million and the immigration to Russia, Europe and North
    America has dramatically continued. Armenian economy has been
    depended on aids from the US and Armenian diaspora. Armenian workers'
    financial transfers also have a significant contribution to the
    economy. In short, Armenia, had to develop good relations with its
    neighbors in order to end its isolation. However the Armenian
    Governments has chosen an awkward way:

    Unlike the other former USSR republics, Armenia forged its links with
    the Russian Federation. Georgia and Azerbaijan for instance made
    efforts to lessen their dependency to Russia. Both states have tried
    to balance Russia with the European Union, the United State and
    Turkey. Armenia, on the other hand, has been skeptical in developing
    relations with these three `alternatives'. Even, opponents to
    relations with Russia were considered as traitors by main stream
    political parties.

    Secondly, young Armenia involved the ethnic conflicts and Armenian
    forces occupied neighboring Azerbaijan territories. Apart from the
    Nagorno-Karabakh territories, many Azerbaijani towns have been under
    Armenian occupation.

    Third, Armenia with its Constitution and Declaration of Independence,
    has not recognized neighboring Turkey's borders. Many Armenian
    politicians, even today, call Turkey's Eastern region as `Western
    Armenia'.

    Moreover, Armenia has encouraged separatist movements among the
    Georgia Armenians and Russia Armenians. Apart from this, Armenia's
    close relations with Russia have been considered as a direct threat
    by Georgia. Georgia, in return, has forged its relations with the
    West (EU and US), Azerbaijan and Turkey.

    In addition, Armenian politicians have made the so-called `genocide'
    allegations foremost priority of Armenian Foreign Policy. Armenian
    politicians argued that Turkey has to recognize 1915 events as
    `Armenian genocide'. Otherwise good neighborhood was not possible for
    the Armenian side. The Armenian diaspora in particular has
    manipulated Armenia's Turkey policy. Extreme Armenian diaspora
    institutions have even opposed commercial relations with Turkey.

    `Armenia Island'

    As a result of all these Armenia's isolation has deepened: As Sachs
    from NYT points it out `Citing terrorism concerns, Russia abruptly
    sealed its border with Georgia in September and kept it closed for
    nearly two months, effectively cutting off the road that was the main
    transit route for Armenian trade with Russia.' Turkey after the
    Armenian forces' occupation of Azerbaijani territories closed its
    borders with Armenia except the air transportation. Turkish Prime
    Minister Tayyip Erdogan says they could not take any step before the
    Armenians take a step in occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
    Naturally, Armenian borders and almost all relations with Azerbaijan
    were ceased. Not only the borders with Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan
    but also Iranian border is also problematic. Armenia's only direct
    outlet, apart from the Georgian way, is through Iran to the south,
    where trade has been hampered by a poor road network and lack of rail
    lines.
    Iran is in the United States' `enemy list' and Iran, with Russian
    Federation, has been considered as one of the obstacles for the
    Western policies in the Caucasus. So, developing closer relations
    with Iran would be risky for Armenia.

    Azerbaijan and Georgia has celebrated the completion of a large
    section of the pipeline to carry Caspian Sea oil to the Turkish port
    of Ceyhan. The $3 billion regional energy project bypasses Armenia
    entirely. The pipeline project will integrate Azerbaijan and Georgia
    with West and relations between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia are
    being forged changing regional balance of power against Republic of
    Armenia. Turkey, considered as historical enemy in Armenia, will also
    start membership negotiations with the EU. It is estimated that
    Turkey will be a EU member in 10 years. According to Armenian Foreign
    Minister Oskanyan European leaders ignored what he called Turkey's
    "faults and shortcomings" with regard to Armenia. "What is
    regrettable," he said, "is that Europe is closing its eyes on
    Turkey's petulance." For Armenia Turkey has no right to close its
    territorial borders with Armenia. `Turkey has to establish diplomatic
    relations with all European states, including Armenia says one of the
    Armenian officials. However Armenian forces still occupies almost 20
    percent of Azerbaijani territories and Armenia does not recognize the
    written international agreements set Turkey-Armenia borders.

    Dr. Sedat Laciner from ISRO says `Armenia must question its relations
    with the world and the region. While all neighboring countries takes
    great steps in integration with the West and the global order,
    Armenia's dependency to Russia has dramatically increased. Nothing is
    bad with having good relations with Russia. However if you claim you
    are an independent state you should balance your relations. A
    nation-state cannot establish its security and foreign relations on
    trusts and promises.' According to Dr. Laciner extreme Armenian
    diaspora manipulate and misdirect newly independent Armenian State:

    `Armenia has no enough human sources to survive. Migration to Russia,
    Europe and Northern America has badly damaged national economy.
    Hundred thousands work abroad. About 40,000 Armenians work illegally
    in Turkey, for instance. However the Armenian nationalists are
    talking about a Greater Armenia from Black Sea to Mediterranean, from
    Mediterranean to Caspian Sea. Armenia suffers from corruption and
    economic catastrophes. However Armenian politicians are talking about
    events happened almost a century ago. They politically attack Turkey.
    The EU project has been the greatest Turkish dream and Armenian
    politicians they have made enormous efforts to prevent Turkey's EU
    membership. Turkish public was shocked by Armenian anti-Turkish
    campaigns. Armenian politicians do not understand that Turkey is
    ready to normalize its relations with Armenia. AK Party, in
    particular, is very willing to develop good relations with Armenia.
    However if you insist on armed occupation and if you do not recognize
    Turkey's national borders, and if you continue to undermine Turkey's
    relations with the EU, you cannot expect any step from Turkey' added
    Dr. Laciner.

    Turkish Embargo?

    Armenian politicians accuse Turkey for Armenia's economic failures.
    Turkish-Armenian territorial border is closed. However there are
    direct weekly flights between Yerevan and Istanbul. There is no
    diplomatic relations between two states, however thousands of
    Armenians work in Istanbul and other Turkish cities. Turkish goods
    make their way to Armenia. According to New York Times, Turkey is
    Armenia's seventh largest trading partner. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from
    ISRO claims Turkey is its fifth largest partner. But the closed
    border adds cost of road transit through third countries like Georgia
    or by the planes that operate flights between Yerevan and Istanbul to
    Turkey-Armenia trade. Georgia roads are not safe enough and mostly
    closed due to the ethnic tension. Turkey says it will not open its
    border before withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied
    territories.

    Armenian Foreign Minister on the other hand told NYT that they will
    not give up the captured territories: "We won't trade off Karabakh
    for a railroad. We have learned to cope with the isolation. Things
    are evolving around us. Let it be." In short, Armenian politicians
    seem happy with the status quo.

    Armenian forces still occupy 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories.
    Armenia does not recognize its main neighbor's national borders.
    Armenian politicians organize anti-Turkey campaigns in European Union
    and the United States. And, Armenia ironically cannot understand why
    Turkey does not open its borders with Armenia. Nearly half of the
    country's 3 million people live in poverty on less than $2 a day, but
    Armenia's Foreign Minister could say `we have learned to cope with
    the isolation'. As Dr. Gulcan says, `Armenian politicians have chosen
    isolation. They curtail the real problems with the past. They
    sacrifice today for the legacies and imagined enemies. They should
    not learn to cope with isolation, but to cope with their
    politicians.'
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