“THE KARS TRIPARTITE MEETING CAN BECOME THE BEGINNING OF BLOCKADE TO RUSSIA FROM THE SOUTH BY TURKEY-GEORGIA-AZERBAIJAN LINE.”
December 16 2014
The experts about the next display of approximation of our three
neighbors On Wednesday, in Kars, foreign ministers of Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Turkey passed a joint statement, which reads:
“Exchanging views on recent situation in the region, reiterated their
firm support to each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
and in this regard, renewed their call for the earliest settlement
of the conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the
Republic of Azerbaijan and the conflict in Georgian regions of
Abkhazia, and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, in accordance with the
fundamental principles and norms of international law, particularly
respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability
of internationally recognized borders of the states.” Cited from
“Radio Liberty”. According to the same source, during the joint
press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut CavuÃ…~_oglu said,
“Armenian must take steps to normalize the available problems in the
relations with neighbors. Armenia was left out of the mechanism due
to the existent problems. It is our wish for Armenia to join us too,
by respecting the borders of its neighbors. This way the missing link
will be completed. Turkey is expressing its support to Azerbaijan and
Georgia in the resolution of these conflicts within the framework
of their territorial integrity.” In hit turn, Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Memmedyarov said, “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be
resolved on the basis of international agreements,” and the Foreign
Minister of Georgia Tamar Beruchashvili expressed hope, “The Kars
meeting may be vital to counter the existing threats in the region.”
In the passed joint statement, there was a reference to the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway bypassing Armenia.
“Acknowledging the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway
project as a competitive connection between Asia and Europe that will
contribute to the expansion of trade and economic development in the
region, and in this regard, the ministers strongly encourage their
relevant authorities to do their utmost to complete the project as
soon as possible.” To our request to interpret this Joint Statement
and in particular estimate Georgia’s position on this issue, former
NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan replied, “In Kars, the meeting
of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey became an
original affirmation of solidarity between these three countries right
after the state visit of Russian President Putin to Turkey. Turkey’s
conduct is interesting from the perspective that being one of the
member of the OSCE Minsk Group, this country, in fact, has neglected
the Madrid principles put into circulation by the MG co-chairs,
as together with Georgia and Azerbaijan, it had claimed that, among
others, the Karabakh conflict must be resolved by the principle of
priority of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. In other words,
Turkey rejects the provision of the right to self-determination
composing a part of the Madrid principles. This is not a surprise,
but the important thing here is that the joint statement dedicated
to the principles of normalization of conflicts can become the next
act of Russia’s isolation. The Ukrainian crisis provided Russia’s
isolation of land from the west, while the Kars tripartite meeting can
become the beginning of the practical phase of blocking our northern
great neighbor in the south by Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan line. It is
important to note that Armenia, however, is left out of this line
thanks to the common border with Iran.” Turkologist, also senior
researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
noted that the join documents passed by the three foreign ministers
singles out by the emphasis and suggested tasks. “This meeting was the
next event proving the Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan growing relations. In
the joint statement, we again witnessed the use of double standards
on the problems concerning Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and the facts
of selective interpretation of the international law. Interestingly,
how the Turkish foreign minister recognizes Georgia’s territorial
integrity, but at the same time, is considered to be an important
trading partner for Abkhazia, makes investments in Abkhazia, Deputy
Foreign Minister visits Abkhazia and so on? While Azerbaijan, in
the negotiations with Armenia, accepts the principle of the right to
self-determination, however, meeting the same fate-sharing Georgia,
falls into a stage of a “profound amnesia”. The reference to joint
plans in the document (in particular, the Baku – Tbilisi-Kars railway)
is an evidence of two undeniable realities. Turkey is becoming an
indispensable telecommunications and energy hub in front of our
eyes and is steadily moving in that direction; it was proved by
cancellation of the “South Stream” and directing it toward Turkey,
moreover, the fact of naming it a “Turkish Stream”. As formulated by
Miller, the Head of “Gazprom”, “Europe handed over the gas gate to
Turkey.” The second factor refers to Georgia. Since 2004, our friendly
and extremely important country for us has turned into a Turkey and
Azerbaijan joint impact zone. The political, economic, financial,
cultural, educational and humanitarian programs, which Turkey, and
to a lesser degree, Azerbaijan carry out in Georgia, in their turn,
give rise to some commitments that the Georgian authorities have
to exercise. I hope that during the planned visit of the RA Prime
Minister to Georgia, this and other related issues will be raised,
and there will be a mutually beneficial discussion. I fully hope that
the format of Armenia’s participation in the Kars-Tbilisi railway
will also be considered.” Johnny Melikyan, Political Scientist for
the Regional Research Center of Public Administration Academy, also
expert on Georgian Affairs, noted that the Kars meeting is sequential
in the format of Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey tripartite partnership
that has already become a traditional, which was started still under
the previous administration of Georgia, in 2012. “I must say that
nothing extraordinary has happened, and Georgia, having territorial
problems, always voted in favor of pro-Azerbaijani documents in various
platforms, be it the OSCE, the UN or other platform. It’s another
question that in addition to this tripartite format, there are also
Armenian-Georgian traditional friendly relations. Our countries are at
different integration systems, however, they still have a steady warm
relationships, both passed year’s results and the interstate visits
indicate that both sides have the conscious that the opportunities and
desire to deepen the relations between our countries always existed.”
Melania BARSEGHYAN
Read more at:
http://en.aravot.am/2014/12/16/168192/