US, ISRAEL SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN TURKEY’S BECOMING LEADER IN ISLAMIC WORLD
Leyla Tagiyeva
news.az
May 6 2010
Azerbaijan
Vafa Guluzade News.Az interviews Vafa Guluzade, Azerbaijani political
scientist.
The possibility of recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide"
in the Ottoman Turkey has been repeatedly discussed in Israel recently.
What can you say about this?
In this connection, I would like to note that I completely agree with
the statement of Turkish Premier Erdogan regarding this issue.
Different incompetent bodies and parliaments which do not know anything
about the events that occurred almost a century ago or about the events
in Turkey during the first world war have started to take decisions
on issues that are not related to them. This causes a great surprise
in me.
Israel and Turkey are currently experiencing not the best period
in their relations. What can the recognition of this "genocide"
by Israel result in?
As we have already seen, the parliaments sometimes take such decisions
but it does not affect the bilateral relations of these countries with
Turkey. For example, let’s take the Russian-Turkish relations. Russian
Duma has taken a decision to recognize "genocide". But immediately
after it, everyone including Duma has forgotten about it. Today, there
are wonderful mutually profitable Russian-Turkish relations. These
include economy, business, energy, export of Turkish goods of light
industry to Russia and the three million Russian tourism in Turkey.
Thus, I think there are no problems between them. As for the
recognition of "genocide", these are silly decisions of incompetent
people in different countries. In addition, we do not know whether
Israel will take such a decision to recognize "Armenian genocide".
Do you think Azerbaijan could promote the improvement of the
Turkish-Israeli relations considering kinship with Turkey and close
partnership with Israel?
I think Azerbaijan will always be next to Turkey in its position on
this issue. But Azerbaijan cannot be a mediator between Israel and
Turkey. If Israel and Turkey want, they may quickly agree between
each other.
A big delegation of Azerbaijan is currently visiting Israel and
according to one of the members of this delegation, they will try
to persuade the Israeli parliamentarians not to take anti-Turkish
decisions. Which are their chances for success, in your opinion?
Certainly, Azerbaijan will support Turkey. Certainly, Azerbaijan
will insist on the position that the adoption of such a decision by
the Israeli Knesset is absolutely irrational and unnecessary. I do
not doubt about it. But as I have already said Azerbaijan cannot be
a mediator between Israel and Turkey, they can agree themselves if
they want.
What do you think is the real cause of problems between Israel
and Turkey?
Turkey starts to take a leading position in the region. It has become
a powerful, mighty state, influencing the whole region. In addition,
Turkey intercepts Iran’s initiative to advocate Muslim interests.
Earlier it was Iran which claimed for this role, while now democratic
Turkey has started doing so. I think this variant is profitable both
for Israel and the United States and they should think well about it.
They need the leader of Islamic world and this will be either Iran
or Turkey. I think Turkey is more appropriate for them, while Israel
is also claiming for leadership in the region and Israel’s jealousy
is clear as it does not need either Turkey or Iran as a leader.
Therefore, by speaking about possible recognition of the Armenian
"genocide" Israel is taking a step as if trying to intimidate Turkey.
However, Israel will gain nothing since Turkey is a dynamically
developing, democratic, progressive and developed state. Meanwhile,
Israel is currently not progressing. If in the start of its
establishment Israel was a mobile and strong country, now it is
different. It is split with discrepancies which cause its jealous
attitude to all possible rivals.
However, jealousy never does any good. It is necessary to admit the
realities and be at a pace with them.
Turkey and Israel have recently had a very close cooperation and
partner relations. Is it possible to restore them or are they already
in the past?
Turkey under Erdogan is a strongly developing state that does not
follow traditional canons. I view this as a positive event. Turkey is
developing and progressing and if Israel wants to have good relations
with Turkey, it will have them by admitting these realities. But if
Israel does not want it, it will not affect Turkey in any way.