However, the official Yerevan should have a clear agenda on the eve of the 100th anniversary of Genocide
Yesterday, “Aravot” released the information that Armenia had developed a new roadmap for rapprochement of Armenian-Turkish relations, which via closed channels was transferred to Ahmet Davutoğlu. According to MFA’s “Aravot” sources, Armenia, via secret channels, has transferred the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu the road map for rapprochement of the Armenian-Turkish relations, in three clauses.
Turkey should publicly acknowledge the fact of the Armenian Genocide, should immediately open the Armenian-Turkish border, and establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, after which Turkey would be able to come up with peacemaking efforts regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, and obtain the right to implement public projects in the spheres of war rhetoric control, prevention of border incidents, withdrawal of snipers and preparation for peace to the societies.
As you know, on December 12, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is going to attend the Foreign Ministers meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) to be held in Yerevan. Turkish media, for a long time, still before Sargsyan-Aliyev recent negotiations, are constantly introducing the position of the Turkish government in the Karabakh conflict settlement. The official Ankara’s expectation is approximately as follows: Armenia “should evacuate at least two areas adjacent to Karabakh,” for which Turkey would open its border with Armenia.
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It is clear that during his Yerevan visit, Davutoğlu once again would introduce the official Ankara’s position to the Armenian authorities. Turkish mass media report that Davutoğlu had planned to meet with the President of the republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, and the Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during his Yerevan visit. To remind that, in 2009, the former Foreign Minister of Turkey, currently Deputy Prime Minister, Ali Babacan, visited Yerevan to attend the BSEC meeting, after which, a few months later, Armenia and Turkey signed protocols in Switzerland on normalization of diplomatic relations.
In the last months, on the background of unprecedented activeness of the official Turkey, the official Yerevan had probably decided to get a benefit from information and diplomatic campaign tools. If, indeed, Armenia introduces a road map to Ankara, it can be considered as a counterbalance in response to recent demands of the Turkish authorities.
In general, it is high time for the official Yerevan to speak with the Turkish authorities more “substantially”, especially when Turkey has virtually failed signing the Armenia-Turkey protocols, and putting them aside, for a long time, it is continuously demanding a quick resolution of the Karabakh conflict, by presenting Azerbaijani beneficial claims.
In general, it leaves the impression that Armenia has two sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, with the Azerbaijan-Turkey tandem. Lately, official Ankara has been so active that in the messages regarding the meetings with the United States and Russia high-ranking officials, it openly states that Turkey has certain expectations from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process. This is really unacceptable, because Turkey as a regulation interested party, is acting from the interests of Azerbaijan and establishes a blockade against Armenia due to Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which is actually a hostile act against the neighboring country.
The upcoming Ahmet Davutoğlu’s visit could hardly record a turning point in Armenian-Turkish relations. Ankara’s estimates and expectations associated with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may remain unrealistic, however, the official Yerevan may slightly fortify its positions in Armenia-Turkey relations front, ahead to the 100th anniversary of Genocide, clearly coming up with the claim addressed to Ankara and the international community, first of all, regarding the fact of maintaining a blockade of Armenia by Turkey.
The international community, of course, perceives that it is the Turkey that obstructs signing the Turkish-Armenian protocols, but it should nowise be a comfort for the official Yerevan, moreover, be the opportunity to sit idly. On the contrary, official Yerevan, on the eve of 100th anniversary of Genocide, should have a clear agenda, which should promote in Turkey’s possibly maintaining neutral position with regard to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, as well we with regard to implementing specific steps in Armenia-Turkey normalization process, by passing from words to actions.
Emma GABRIELYAN
