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TURKEY FACING ILHAM ALIYEV'S "RIGHTEOUS ANGER"?
Azerbaijan is waiting for Turkish explanations on the opening of
Yerevan-Van flights, the latters not matching Ankara's official stance.
A report on the opening of direct Yerevan-Van flights threw Baku
into another fit of hysterics. Azerbaijan seems to believe that any
Armenia-related step initiated by Russia or Turkey must be coordinated
with Baku for fear of the "righteous anger" of Ilham Aliyev.
PanARMENIAN.Net - Current hysterics is the second major one after
Zurich Protocols. The Protocols were doomed to oblivion form the
onset, the Yerevan-Van flights, on the other hand, belonging to a
realm of business, are much more likely to work. Formally, the flights
were initiated by a private Turkish company Bora Jet. Baku, however,
suspects that Ankara might actually be behind the private initiative,
with Turkish President's congratulatory message to Armenian leader
on the latter's reelection further undermining Azeri authorities'
trust towards Turkey's policy line.
The executive secretary of Yeni Azerbaijan ruling party Ali Akhmedov
stated that Baku is waiting for Turkish explanations over the launch of
the flight. He further expressed Baku's reluctance to accept a possible
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement while "Azeri lands remain occupied."
Azeri president's administration expressed a similar stance, with the
officials stressing Baku's "sensitivity" to any contacts with Armenia
or Nagorno Karabakh. "Baku deems such contacts to signal support for
Armenia," the Head of the Presidential Administration's Department
on Social Political Issues Ali Hasanov said.
Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Coskun reassured Baku,
noting that the launch of the private company's flight shouldn't cause
doubts as to the official position of Ankara. However a political
analyst Mubariz Ahmedoglu, who's known to be close to governmental
circles, refuted the envoy's version of a "private initiative." "No
flights in Turkey can be allowed without the official permission of
the Turkish government, regardless of financials gains. There's no
need trying to trick Azerbaijan," he said.
Baku, however, is the only one to blame for the trap it got caught
into. The flights might well be followed by a resumption of a
Kars-Gyumri railway connection. Also, the change of power in Georgia
may alter the regional position of Azerbaijan, which is the main
cause of concern for he latter. And the "countless oil-brought riches"
which Baku will soon run out of won't affect the situation. It's hard
to believe Ilham Aliyev is unaware of the fact, but the inertia of
thought prompts him to continue dictating conditions.
Turkey is currently facing an unpleasant situation - with the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire to be marked
in 2 years, Ankara feels constrained to take some steps. Yerevan-Van
flight is the first step which can be followed by Kars-Gyumri railway
opening and even cancellation of visa regime. However, one must say,
Armenian citizens have no problem getting visas at Georgia's Vale or
Sarpi check points. As for Baku, it may continue its demarches till
they actually make Ankara sick.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News
Azerbaijan is waiting for Turkish explanations on the opening of
Yerevan-Van flights, the latters not matching Ankara's official stance.
A report on the opening of direct Yerevan-Van flights threw Baku
into another fit of hysterics. Azerbaijan seems to believe that any
Armenia-related step initiated by Russia or Turkey must be coordinated
with Baku for fear of the "righteous anger" of Ilham Aliyev.
PanARMENIAN.Net - Current hysterics is the second major one after
Zurich Protocols. The Protocols were doomed to oblivion form the
onset, the Yerevan-Van flights, on the other hand, belonging to a
realm of business, are much more likely to work. Formally, the flights
were initiated by a private Turkish company Bora Jet. Baku, however,
suspects that Ankara might actually be behind the private initiative,
with Turkish President's congratulatory message to Armenian leader
on the latter's reelection further undermining Azeri authorities'
trust towards Turkey's policy line.
The executive secretary of Yeni Azerbaijan ruling party Ali Akhmedov
stated that Baku is waiting for Turkish explanations over the launch of
the flight. He further expressed Baku's reluctance to accept a possible
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement while "Azeri lands remain occupied."
Azeri president's administration expressed a similar stance, with the
officials stressing Baku's "sensitivity" to any contacts with Armenia
or Nagorno Karabakh. "Baku deems such contacts to signal support for
Armenia," the Head of the Presidential Administration's Department
on Social Political Issues Ali Hasanov said.
Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Coskun reassured Baku,
noting that the launch of the private company's flight shouldn't cause
doubts as to the official position of Ankara. However a political
analyst Mubariz Ahmedoglu, who's known to be close to governmental
circles, refuted the envoy's version of a "private initiative." "No
flights in Turkey can be allowed without the official permission of
the Turkish government, regardless of financials gains. There's no
need trying to trick Azerbaijan," he said.
Baku, however, is the only one to blame for the trap it got caught
into. The flights might well be followed by a resumption of a
Kars-Gyumri railway connection. Also, the change of power in Georgia
may alter the regional position of Azerbaijan, which is the main
cause of concern for he latter. And the "countless oil-brought riches"
which Baku will soon run out of won't affect the situation. It's hard
to believe Ilham Aliyev is unaware of the fact, but the inertia of
thought prompts him to continue dictating conditions.
Turkey is currently facing an unpleasant situation - with the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire to be marked
in 2 years, Ankara feels constrained to take some steps. Yerevan-Van
flight is the first step which can be followed by Kars-Gyumri railway
opening and even cancellation of visa regime. However, one must say,
Armenian citizens have no problem getting visas at Georgia's Vale or
Sarpi check points. As for Baku, it may continue its demarches till
they actually make Ankara sick.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News
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