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BAKU: 'Armenia Itself Froze Normalization Of Ties With Turkey'

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  • BAKU: 'Armenia Itself Froze Normalization Of Ties With Turkey'

    'ARMENIA ITSELF FROZE NORMALIZATION OF TIES WITH TURKEY'

    news.az
    Nov 30 2011
    Azerbaijan

    News.Az interviews Turkish political scientist Murat Yesiltas.

    How do you assess the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
    after putting Armenian-Turkish protocols back to the agenda?

    Normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations is very important not
    only to the interests of both countries, but also in terms of regional
    stability and security. "The Arab Spring" not only become a specific
    test for Turkey in formation of country image as a carrier of peace
    in the region but also it revealed that peace is impossible to achieve
    without Turkey.

    It is clear that the Armenian-Turkish relations are not a minor factor
    in the light of processes currently ongoing in the region. However,
    this process, both in Turkey and Armenia, is perceived as a matter of
    domestic policy. All the same, as we know, this process is perceived
    more painfully in Armenia. As for Turkey, here this issue has become
    more complicated since this process on the one hand creates pressure
    for domestic policy, and on the other hand it has the potential
    to affect Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. This situation was openly
    demonstrated over the past three years.

    Azerbaijan and Turkey are struggling with the Armenian lobby. In this
    fighting Turkey was forced to make many concessions to the United
    States and Israel. Therefore, the Armenian-Turkish protocols in this
    context should not be taken in the Turkish Parliament as an abnormal
    case. The situation remains the same - Turkey, claiming the role of
    the state, which plays an important role in the region, has to face
    serious pressure.

    So, does the fact of removal of Armenian-Turkish protocols from the
    agenda of the Turkish parliament and their repeated inclusion on the
    agenda mean that the policy of the Turkish government has failed?

    It would be wrong to believe that the Turkey's policy of 'Zero problems
    with neighbors' has failed. This policy primarily bases on definite
    principles. Even if these principles are taken as the main components
    of the foreign policy of the states, some problems won't be reduced
    to minimum anyway. Turkish-Armenian relations should be viewed in this
    very context. Armenia's public opinion is very sensitive regarding this
    issue. Armenia views this issue only in terms of opening borders with
    Turkey, though it was because the sensitivity of the Armenian side,
    it was their fault that the process was frozen.

    What political forces in Turkey tend more to normalizing ties with
    Armenia?

    The sensitive attitude of some Turkish regions to Azerbaijan and their
    prejudice against Armenia promotes specific resistance to normalization
    of the Turkish-Armenian ties. Certainly, this does not mean that the
    Turkish government is also sensitive to Azerbaijan. The government
    formed from the ruling party of Justice and Development leads the
    powers that are eager to normalize relations with Armenia.

    However, the party faced some difficulties in this issue. This is
    an important matter for them in both attaining regional order and
    preservation of peace.

    Which role does the process of normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations
    play in Karabakh settlement?

    In the start of the process intensification on normalization of ties
    and active involvement of diplomatic mechanisms Turkey set a number
    of provisions. The main term was liberation of the Azerbaijani lands
    occupied by Armenians. Turkey indirectly bound itself to the solution
    of Karabakh conflict by setting the provision of Armenia's withdrawal
    from occupied lands. The normalization of relations might have direct
    impact on Karabakh problem. However, the resolution of this issue
    does not depend only on Turkey and Armenia.

    This is a regional problem which involves Turkey and Azerbaijan and
    where interests of US and Russia also intersect. Normalization of the
    Turkish-Armenian relations and resolution of the Karabakh conflict
    are interconnected. If a positive contribution is made to Karabakh
    conflict settlement, the relations between Turkey and Armenia will
    be normalized. And vice versa, if negative things occur in Karabakh
    settlement, it will affect the Turkish-Armenian ties.

    Is new war real between Azerbaijan and Armenia?

    It is now difficult to make the forecast. Over the past 20 years
    Azerbaijan and Armenia have been independent and represented in
    international policy. Armenia's economy is in a disastrous state.

    Armenia still views Turkey and Azerbaijan as its enemies. Therefore,
    Armenia has to spend more funds on defence. This in turn promotes
    migration processes from this country. Meanwhile, in terms of energy
    sources, Azerbaijan is a very rich country. Additionally, such a
    strong country as Turkey is next to Azerbaijan. But I have to note
    that anyway Azerbaijan and Armenia still have the unsettled dispute.

    The current situation gives a ground to state that a new war between
    Azerbaijan and Armenia is unreal.

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