Armenian-Turkish Relations

[Catharsis]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

ERDOGAN ISSUES AN ULTIMATUM

President Barack Obama hailed the Armenia-Turkey protocols and pledged US support for the process as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodagan, on the eve of his meeting with the president, issued an ultimatum to the White House saying that normalization process could not move forward without an end to the Karabakh conflict.

“We have announced to U.S. representatives since the beginning that if you want to resolve the Turkish Armenian issue you should also resolve the Karabakh conflict. Otherwise, you will fail to resolve either,” Erdogan told the Azeri ANS TV ahead of his scheduled meeting on December 7 with Obama at the White House.

“This is because the Turkish-Armenian issue and the Nagorno-Karabakh problem are interrelated. I told this to Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, to which they replied: ‘We will accelerate this question,’” claimed Erdogan adding that “if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled, the Turkish-Armenian problem will also be finally resolved.”

Meanwhile in Washington, Obama, in response to a letter addressed to him by a group of Armenian organizations supporting the protocols, among them the Armenian Assembly of America, the AGBU and the Diocese, voiced his “vigorous” support for the protocols, but again fell short of characterizing the events of 1915 as “genocide.”

“I agree that normalization between Armenia and Turkey should move forward without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe. On October 10, Secretary Clinton represented the United States at the historic signing of the protocols providing a framework for normalization. We continue to support Armenia and Turkey as they move ahead to fulfill the promise of normalization,” said Obama.

“Regarding the past, I deeply appreciate your views on what is one of the great atrocities of the 20th century. As I said in my Remembrance Day message, my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts. I believe that the best way to advance that goal is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as part of their efforts to move forward. We will continue to vigorously support the normalization effort in the months ahead,” added Obama.

“Prime Minister Erdogan – having succeeded in using the Ankara-inspired Protocols to enlist the cooperation of yet another U.S. Administration into its campaign to block recognition of the Armenian Genocide – is now coming to Washington to cement his gains and further press his advantage,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“High on his agenda, it seems, will be showcasing Turkey’s public disregard for President Obama’s twin priorities for Armenia-Turkey normalization, namely that they be established without preconditions and within a reasonable time-frame. Today, more than seven months after our President’s speech in Ankara – during which he broke his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide – it’s patently clear that Turkey has in fact imposed preconditions, will not act in a reasonable time-frame, and, more broadly, views this entire process as simply a way to extend U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denials from one April 24th to the next,” added Hamparian.

Erdogan, whose government unequivocally rejected a US call for troops to Afghanistan, travels to the US with the intention to address the Karabakh conflict within the context of the Armenia-Turkey protocols, ignoring Obama’s own clearly-stated view that the Armenia-Turkey talks should proceed without preconditions.

At the same time, the White House has chosen to selectively respond to Armenian-American community concerns, choosing to address only those voices that represent a clear minority in support of the US-backed protocols.

[Armanen]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Those comments are for the domestic market. The leadership of turkey will do what is in its interests or if the Great Powers continue to force their hand, which they seem to be doing.

[Catharsis]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Those comments are for the domestic market. The leadership of turkey will do what is in its interests or if the Great Powers continue to force their hand, which they seem to be doing.

But Erdogan issued it to the White House. They would not back out of this after repeating time and again that Artsakh 'resolution' (ie Armenian abandonment of Artsakh to Azeris) is part of the 'deal' of the establishment of Armeno-Turkish relations - already a clear violation of the so-called agreement between the sides.

[Armanen]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

But Erdogan issued it to the White House. They would not back out of this after repeating time and again that Artsakh 'resolution' (ie Armenian abandonment of Artsakh to Azeris) is part of the 'deal' of the establishment of Armeno-Turkish relations - already a clear violation of the so-called agreement between the sides.

He made these statements to an azeri news outlet, so who knows if official ankara actually said this to Washington. We must not believe that this is a washington or even eu lead rapprochement, Moscow is the main initiator and they have the most clout in the region. Also, the azeribajani leadership and people already feel betrayed by the signing of the protocols, so the turkish governmental pr department is doing as much as it can to soothe azeri resentment.

I don't put to much into what public officials have to say, 9 times out of 10 it is fluff. Regardless, as we near the New Year and into the first quarter of 2010, we'll see what comes of the Armenian-turkish protocols. Many of the opinions/accusations on both sides will be disproven.

[Muhaha]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

None of this matters as long as Serj keeps his ground. There's really nothing that can be done negatively to Armenia if it doesn't agree to surrender the territories unless the EU, Russia, and U.S all agreed they were against Armenia and pushed heavily for the Turkish-Azeri side. This is possible, but not likely in the near future.

[Armanen]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

None of this matters as long as Serj keeps his ground. There's really nothing that can be done negatively to Armenia if it doesn't agree to surrender the territories unless the EU, Russia, and U.S all agreed they were against Armenia and pushed heavily for the Turkish-Azeri side. This is possible, but not likely in the near future.

It wouldn't even require the eu or the u.s. to side with azerbaijan. All it takes is Russia, they have the most influence and resources in the region, and they have a strong grip on Armenia. However, as long as we serve their interests, which will be for sometime to come, they will not weaken Armenia to the point where we have to give up Artsakh. Afterall, Armenia is their only strategic partner in the region and provides a check to Iranian, and turkish encroachment.

[Catharsis]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

After White House Meeting,
Erdogan Says Turkey-Armenia Ties
Connected to Karabakh

WASHINGTON (Combined Sources)—Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after his meeting with President Obama that the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations was contingent on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

According to Erdogan, the US and Turkish leaders discussed relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“This is important in the context of relations between Turkey and Armenia,” he said, adding that the two also discussed the Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

On the issue of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Obama said Erdogan had been “courageous” in his efforts to normalize the decades-old resentment and bitterness.

Obama and Erdogan were also reported to have discussed Iran. According to Reuters, Obama said on Monday that Turkey could be an “important player” in efforts to resolve the long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

The US President made the statement during a White House meeting with Erdogan, who said his country stands ready to do whatever it can to achieve a diplomatic solution to the issue.

Obama said he had stressed the importance of resolving the dispute “in a way that allows Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy, but provides assurances that it will abide by international rules and norms.”

“I believe that Turkey can be an important player in trying to move Iran in that direction,” the president was quoted as saying by AFP.

Obama also praised Turkey for its role in Afghanistan, where it has some 1,700 troops.

[gegev]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Charlie Rose’s guest on Tuesday Dec. 8, will be Erdogan. Before it Rose treated Erdogan very kindly.

I wander how she would calmly talk to the 1,500,000 Armenians murderer’s successor? And AG number 1 denier.

http://www.charlierose.com/

[Tigranakert]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Azerbaijani Parliament may annul decision about transferring Zangezur to Armenia

Tue 08 December 2009 | 07:33 GMT Text size:
5183
Gultekin Hajibeyli

Interview with Gultekin Hajibeyli, deputy chairman of Azerbaijani Parliament committee on international relations and interparliamentary ties.

The Karabakh conflict has started 20 years ago while the OSCE Minsk Group that has been meditating it settlement is almost 18 years old. The group has yet failed to attain a breakthrough in the conflict settlement. Is it not time to transfer the settlement mission to the UN Security Council?

I think Minsk group’s activity in the past period showed that its purpose is not to attain settlement but to create a visibility of efforts in this direction. The periodical visits of the MG co-chairs to the region, statements of the frequently replaced co-chairs showed that it is senseless to expect this formation to provide assistance to the fair resolution of the conflict. It is not surprising considering that the countries with traditionally strong Armenian Diasporas are represented among the three MG co-chairs. As is known, the French Senate has recently recognized the mythical “Armenian genocide”. It would have been logical to include Turkey into the list of the co-chairs to attain a balance in mediation. But nothing of this kind is done. Therefore, the sole familiarization with the list of the Minsk Group co-chairs shows the direction in which the settlement process is held.

You have mentioned France, but the third co-chair-the United States-has not yet made any serious pressure on aggressor Armenia…

Right. The United States have long been allocating direct financial assistance to the occupational regime in Nagorno Karabakh under pretense of the humanitarian aide. In other words, it would be naïve to expect from the OSCE Minsk Group to make a significant contribution to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict with such composition. Obviously, there are two variants of settlement: concessions from Azerbaijan’s part which would mean capitulation and disavowal of occupational policy by Armenia. Though the recent events show that it would be very difficult to call Armenia encouraged by the superpowers to order and peace

The MG co-chairs state that the so-called corridor of 15 km in width will be created in the Lachin region of Azerbaijan and transferred under Armenian controll. Is there is a notion of “a corridor” in the international law?

No, there is no. And certainly, there is a question: then why not open a corridor between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic that was isolated from the rest part in the result of the transfer of ancient Azerbaijani lands of Zangezur to Armenia under the Soviet regime? Who has said that the security of Karabakh Armenia is more important than the security of 400,000 Azerbaijanis residing in Nakhchivan? In fact, the transfer of the “Lachin corridor” under Armenian control means the transfer of the whole Lachin region to Armenia which is obviously inadmissible

By the way, in the early 1990s it was proposed to create another corridor linking Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan via Megri.

The territory of the former Zangezur, which is a part of ancient Azerbaijani lands, was presented to Armenia as a “gift” on 1 December 1922 on occasion of the anniversary of establishment of the Soviet regime in this country. I think as today the Azerbaijani Republic is a successor of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic of 1918-1920 that involved Zangezur, we can raise this issue in the legal area. Moreover, the corridor via Megri will not only annul the enclave situation of Nakhchivan but also lead to the closer neighborhood of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Do you think such script is possible?

Certainly, it is not. On the whole, the mass settlement of Armenians in the South Caucasus with the further creation of the artificial Armenian state in the ancient Azerbaijani .lands and the further establishment of the Armenian autonomy in another Azerbaijani region – Karabakh- for the purpose of creating conditions for new annexation of the Azerbaijani lands-aims at creating a barrier between Azerbaijan and Turkey and preventing their integration.

Can the Azerbaijani parliament annul the political and legal acts on the transfer of Azerbaijani lands to Armenia adopted by the USSR government?

This is a principal issue. Milli Medjlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) can at least annul the decision about transferring Zangezur to Armenia. The situation about Irevan which was surrendered by the government of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic in 1918 due to political expediency is quite different. The thing is that a fierce fight was conducted at that time for Baku and the situation was that there could have been created serious problems with recognition of this city as a capital of Azerbaijan at the Versailles peace conference. As we have already mentioned, Zangezur was transferred after creation of the USSR and I think we can and must return to this issue.

1news.az

[Tigranakert]

Re: Armenian-Turkish Relations

Armenian diplomacy dramatically fails to use such outrageous claims on their own behalve. Azerbaijan is now directly threatening Armenia herself, and we just don't mind.

We have even forgotten what happened in Julfa. We even renovate their mosques in Artsakh (I have seen it myself), and they are raising the issue of ''destruction of Azerbaboon heritage'' in the Council of Europe.

We must never give an inch of land back to Azerbaijan, we should have raised the issue of Nachichevan (which belonged to Armenia) and Kelbajar, a long time ago. This would have give us more diplomatic strength.

May death follow for those who are prepared to give an inch of our historic territories to the devils.