Jan SOYKOK (JTW) – President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden said that to normalize relations with Turkey Armenia should “look in the future, not using the past to block it and look for peaceful solutions”, Armenian daily PanArmenian reported. Turkish experts share Linden’s ideas.
“The fact that Armenia and Turkey and CE members provides an opportunity to MPs of the two countries to meet and discuss problems. I believe if you live in a region and you do not have actual open contacts: trade and economic, cultural and personal relations, you do not serve to the cause of securing a better future for your country. It is impossible to build a sustainable future in a region, where you are isolated from your neighbors. I am sure that looking in the future is in the interests of Armenia, not using the past to block it and look for peaceful solutions.
Turkey and Armenia territorial borders have been closed since Armenia occupied about 20 percent of Azerbaijan. Armenia also does not recognize Turkey’s and Armenia’s national borders. Turkey says that Armenia should respect the international borders, otherwise Turkey wii not open the borders. The ultra-nationalist Armenians are also against the opening of the borders.
Turkish Caucasian region expert Dr. Yesim Sahiner says that Armenia needs Turkey: “Armenia is a small country and the great Turkish market could be great opportunity for the Armenian businessmen. Turkey also provide job opportunities for the young Armenians. More than 50,000 Armenians illegally work in Istanbul already. The opening of the borders will definitely increase the number of Armenians who work in Turkey.” According to Dr. Sahiner, the biggest obstruct before the opening of the borders is the radicals in the Armenian Diaspora: “There is a Turkish Enemy Industry among the Armenians. Some Armenian would lose their influence, jobs and money without problems with Turkey. If Turkey opens the territorial gates, all Armenians will realize that Turks are not monsters, and they do not hate Armenians. Actually an ordinary Turkish man does not care too much about the Armenians. Armenia is smaller than Ankara city in terms of population and economy” she added.
USAK Director Dr. Sedat Laciner argues that the nationalist Armenians have a territory-based approach: “Many Armenians are only speaking about territories. Ultra-nationalists want more territories. Armenian irredentism aims territories from Turkey, Georgia, Iran, Azerbaijan and even from Russia. However they cannot populate the tiny Armenian republic. The population of Armenia has dramatically decreased since the independence. However Turkey has no desire for more territory. As a matter of fact that territory is nothing if you have no wealthy nation. The most important things are security, stability and developed economy. Armenia has none of them. They have sacrificed all of them for Karabakh and surrounding Azeri territories. The opening of Turkish borders could give Armenia stability, security and a developing economy.”
Dr. Laciner says that Armenian issue is not vital for Turkish people: “Turkey can live with the Armenian issue. Armenians try to use the Armenian allegations as blackmail in Turkey’s European Union process. They follow the Greeks. However the Greeks failed, and the Armenians will fail. The foreign pressures on Turkey regarding the Greek or Armenian issues make Turkey less moderate in these issues. Armenian issue is not at the heart of Turkish politics. However Armenians put Turkey everywhere. Some Armenians live in the past and they are not aware that they lose today.”
Dr. Laciner says that the best solution to the problems is a Caucasian economic integration process:
“The Caucasian states are very small. Armenia in particular is a very small market which makes its economy less competitive. The security problems and the problems with the neigbours worsen the problems. Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan has increased economic co-operations and they gained the American, Israeli and European supports in economic issues. Thanks to the Western economic and political support, the Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan pipeline project has been completed. The new transportation projects will be finished in near future and the Caucasian economies will be integrated to the Turkey economy. The region will be a bridge between Europe and Asia. Armenia has lost a lot of time. It is understandable that the Genocide Issue is important for the Armenians, but they should also look at the current problems. Turkey does not say that a dialogue is impossible on the past. Turkish PM Erdogan invited the Armenian side to establish a joint commission to discuss the different historical thesis. The Armenians reject all of the offers. Yerevan adopts a ‘accept-or-shut-up’ approach. They listen to nothing but want to impose their own belief. This is not a good way to establish dialogue channels between the Turkish and Armenian peoples.”
1 May 2006
JTW
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