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Armenia 'should seek peace with its neighbours'
News.Az interviews Professor Yusuf Ziya Irbec, a deputy of the Turkish parliament from the opposition MHP (Nationalist Movement Party).
In his recent address to the UN General Assembly, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan accused Turkey of frustrating the Turkish-Armenian protocols. Is he right?
Problems appeared in the process of tackling issues arising from the Turkish-Armenian protocols. For example, one problem is the issue of mass murders, that is "genocide". To clarify whether the events of a hundred years ago were the result of war or mass murder, the sides have to open the archives. In addition, it is essential that a group of researchers investigate the mass murders in Khojaly. In reality, we can see that Armenia is protracting the scientific study of these facts. We insist on the archives being opened to an international commission to study all the facts. In short, if one international commission studies the issue of mass murders, so much insisted on by the Armenian side, another international commission has to investigate the mass murders in Khojaly. Armenia, which has a hand in the mass murders in Khojaly, refuses to form an international commission to study the events of 1915. In fear that the historical truth about the events of 1915 and mass murders in Khojaly could be exposed, Armenia rejected the steps envisaged by the protocols. Moreover, Armenia failed to fulfill the provisions of the protocols on a Karabakh settlement. In other words, Armenia disavowed its promises when it came to executing the commitments set out in the protocol.
What is the future of the Turkish-Armenian protocols?
The future of these protocols is no longer connected with Turkey. Turkey has done everything possible to achieve normal relations with Armenia. For this reason, the future of these protocols is fully dependent on Armenia. Armenia cannot accuse Turkey of unwillingness to settle existing interstate problems.
What should Azerbaijan and Turkey do to avoid any suspicion in the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations?
Unfortunately, some foreign media have started to publish provocative reports about alleged differences between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have not yielded to these provocations.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu are sensitive and spare no effort to inform the Azerbaijani leadership if issues discussed or raised relate to Azerbaijan. Before signing the Turkish-Armenian protocols, the Turkish foreign minister met his Azerbaijani counterpart. Moreover, to avoid manipulation, a group of Turkish parliamentarians visited Baku and discussed this issue with the Azerbaijani parliament. In other words, both sides are doing everything possible to avoid misunderstanding.
No one in Turkey will ever support an issue that may cause concern in Azerbaijan. An issue that causes the slightest concern in Azerbaijan will find no support either in the government or among the opposition and the people.
How can Armenia benefit from execution of the provisions of the Turkish-Armenian protocols, particularly if it withdraws from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and disavows its unfounded claims against the Turkish side?
All good intentions continue and bad intentions find no support. A developing state which has good intentions must have good relations with its neighbours. For example, Azerbaijan is the most stable and developing country of the region, which is why Armenia and other countries should make use of it. As a stable and developing country, Azerbaijan is interested in a similar situation in Armenia, since Azerbaijan, like all developing states, is interested in the development of its neighbours too. In capturing part of Azerbaijan, Armenia follows the principle "it may not be much, but it's mine". However, Armenia won’t last long with such logic and will be obliged to return the occupied lands to Azerbaijan. Also, Armenia will have to settle issues arising from the Turkish-Armenian protocols. In this very fair settlement of the problems, Armenia will find peace and pave the way to development. If it normalizes ties with Azerbaijan and Turkey, its relations with Russia will rise to a higher level. Overall, all the countries of the region will benefit from such a level of relations, including Iran.
In other words, Armenia, instead of demanding the protection of the Christian world from Muslim Azerbaijan, should seek peace with its neighbours. Armenia has no sea outlet, while all energy corridors pass via Azerbaijan and Turkey. For this reason, Armenia is unable to enjoy the advantages appreciated by other countries of the region, including Georgia.
Namik GUSEYNOV
Problems appeared in the process of tackling issues arising from the Turkish-Armenian protocols. For example, one problem is the issue of mass murders, that is "genocide". To clarify whether the events of a hundred years ago were the result of war or mass murder, the sides have to open the archives. In addition, it is essential that a group of researchers investigate the mass murders in Khojaly. In reality, we can see that Armenia is protracting the scientific study of these facts. We insist on the archives being opened to an international commission to study all the facts. In short, if one international commission studies the issue of mass murders, so much insisted on by the Armenian side, another international commission has to investigate the mass murders in Khojaly. Armenia, which has a hand in the mass murders in Khojaly, refuses to form an international commission to study the events of 1915. In fear that the historical truth about the events of 1915 and mass murders in Khojaly could be exposed, Armenia rejected the steps envisaged by the protocols. Moreover, Armenia failed to fulfill the provisions of the protocols on a Karabakh settlement. In other words, Armenia disavowed its promises when it came to executing the commitments set out in the protocol.
What is the future of the Turkish-Armenian protocols?
The future of these protocols is no longer connected with Turkey. Turkey has done everything possible to achieve normal relations with Armenia. For this reason, the future of these protocols is fully dependent on Armenia. Armenia cannot accuse Turkey of unwillingness to settle existing interstate problems.
What should Azerbaijan and Turkey do to avoid any suspicion in the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations?
Unfortunately, some foreign media have started to publish provocative reports about alleged differences between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have not yielded to these provocations.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu are sensitive and spare no effort to inform the Azerbaijani leadership if issues discussed or raised relate to Azerbaijan. Before signing the Turkish-Armenian protocols, the Turkish foreign minister met his Azerbaijani counterpart. Moreover, to avoid manipulation, a group of Turkish parliamentarians visited Baku and discussed this issue with the Azerbaijani parliament. In other words, both sides are doing everything possible to avoid misunderstanding.
No one in Turkey will ever support an issue that may cause concern in Azerbaijan. An issue that causes the slightest concern in Azerbaijan will find no support either in the government or among the opposition and the people.
How can Armenia benefit from execution of the provisions of the Turkish-Armenian protocols, particularly if it withdraws from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and disavows its unfounded claims against the Turkish side?
All good intentions continue and bad intentions find no support. A developing state which has good intentions must have good relations with its neighbours. For example, Azerbaijan is the most stable and developing country of the region, which is why Armenia and other countries should make use of it. As a stable and developing country, Azerbaijan is interested in a similar situation in Armenia, since Azerbaijan, like all developing states, is interested in the development of its neighbours too. In capturing part of Azerbaijan, Armenia follows the principle "it may not be much, but it's mine". However, Armenia won’t last long with such logic and will be obliged to return the occupied lands to Azerbaijan. Also, Armenia will have to settle issues arising from the Turkish-Armenian protocols. In this very fair settlement of the problems, Armenia will find peace and pave the way to development. If it normalizes ties with Azerbaijan and Turkey, its relations with Russia will rise to a higher level. Overall, all the countries of the region will benefit from such a level of relations, including Iran.
In other words, Armenia, instead of demanding the protection of the Christian world from Muslim Azerbaijan, should seek peace with its neighbours. Armenia has no sea outlet, while all energy corridors pass via Azerbaijan and Turkey. For this reason, Armenia is unable to enjoy the advantages appreciated by other countries of the region, including Georgia.
Namik GUSEYNOV
News.Az - 27.09.2011
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