PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenian-Turkish relations: viewpoint from Ankara
Nagorno Karabakh will serve as a condition for the realization of
Nabucco or any transnational or regional communication project.
10.09.2009 GMT+04:00
The issue of Armenian-Turkish relations has become the subject of
discussion of not only the Armenian society but also that of the world
media. And, for some reason, the focus is mainly on Armenia’s
position, though no less important is the standpoint of Turkey, which,
is hardly talked about. If we consider the situation from Ankara’s
viewpoint or generally from Turkish perspective, Armenia is an enemy
to Turkey, a country that hinders her to meet her strategic
objectives.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Even in the years of 1918-1923, when the Entente and
afterwards Greece with the support of the Entente immersed into
Continental Turkey and successfully moved to Ankara, Turkey
concentrated all the power of her army on the Caucasian front against
the Armenians. And only after solving all her problems with the
support of the Bolshevik Russia on this front, did Turkey send her
troops to the West.
This fact alone shows the great importance that Turkey attaches to the
Armenian question. It is her biggest concern and she will do
everything in her traditional manner: give only promises, sign dozens
of contracts, accomplish no single item of the agreements signed,
harass and slaughter the Christian population. It has always been
so. No need to list all the contracts and the solemn commitments given
by Turkish sultans to European leaders…
As for Turkey’s present stance, she is a country that will never do
anything for the benefit of any other state in the world, especially
for the Armenian people, their growth, prosperity and consolidation of
statehood. Transit projects like Nabucco or the `Great Silk Road’
passing through Armenia are destined to failure for the simple reason
that Turkey will never allow them.
Solving her problems – the recognition of borders defined by the Kars
Agreement and softening
ognition ` as well as strengthening the inter-state borders legally
and transferring the issue of the Armenian Genocide to the level of
historical discussion that could last for years, Turkey will abruptly
turn to the implementation of joint Turkish-Azerbaijani plans, the
return of Artsakh to Azerbaijan being a priority. Thus, Nagorno
Karabakh will serve as a condition for the realization of Nabucco or
any transnational or regional communication project, an idea that will
be (or is already) imposed on Europe.
So, in the foreseeable future we shouldn’t rely on any transit
communications from Asia to Europe, as the railroad lines of Armenia
rest on Azerbaijan in the east, thus being destined to permanent
unfeasibility, while the beginning of construction of railway
communication with Iran is on hold for another year because of
indistinctness of the status of the liberated lands and the indistinct
position of official Yerevan.
Thus, we shouldn’t expect any major economic benefits referred to by a
number of politicians and economists, who are for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border. Minor border trade cannot improve the
country’s economy; it simply contributes to the welfare of business
people involved in export and the local population of the
borderland. Here are all our dividends.
Politics, in essence, is the art of trading. And there is always a
place for more or less equal exchange under favorable conditions; for
example, the recognition of the status of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in exchange for the return of part of the liberated lands of
no strategic value, or opening of the Armenian-Turkish border with
consideration of conditions of the Kars agreement in return for
recognition of the Genocide.
It is also appropriate to mention that today Turkey needs a
breakthrough, breakthrough to the latest industrial and civilization
achievements of the West and to a revised national idea. Today the
country is under the threat of militant nationalism, replenished with
the religious factor, still contr
he Turkish leadership. However, today the Turkish leadership faces new
challenges associated with the national identity of its population,
the Kurdish question and white spots of the history offered to the
advanced layer of the society. The (urban) society has already started
a cautious revision of the old ideals, which was provoked by loud
murders and scandals connected with the Armenian issue.
In the eyes of their public the Turkish leadership needs real
diplomatic victories or at least, an illusion of progressive advance
in civilization.
As for the reasons why the Administration of the President of Armenia
has intensified the dialogue with Turkey on normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, it must be regarded as a Russian-American
and European confrontation in the region with the aim to solve their
tactical and strategic tasks, among which there are hardly any
pro-Armenian planks.
Mikhail Balayan