The experts about the next display of approximation of our three neighbors
On Wednesday, in Kars, foreign ministers of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey passed a joint statement, which reads: “Exchanging views on recent situation in the region, reiterated their firm support to each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in this regard, renewed their call for the earliest settlement of the conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the conflict in Georgian regions of Abkhazia, and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, in accordance with the fundamental principles and norms of international law, particularly respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of the states.” Cited from “Radio Liberty”.
According to the same source, during the joint press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, “Armenian must take steps to normalize the available problems in the relations with neighbors. Armenia was left out of the mechanism due to the existent problems. It is our wish for Armenia to join us too, by respecting the borders of its neighbors. This way the missing link will be completed. Turkey is expressing its support to Azerbaijan and Georgia in the resolution of these conflicts within the framework of their territorial integrity.”
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In hit turn, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov said, “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved on the basis of international agreements,” and the Foreign Minister of Georgia Tamar Beruchashvili expressed hope, “The Kars meeting may be vital to counter the existing threats in the region.” In the passed joint statement, there was a reference to the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway bypassing Armenia. “Acknowledging the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project as a competitive connection between Asia and Europe that will contribute to the expansion of trade and economic development in the region, and in this regard, the ministers strongly encourage their relevant authorities to do their utmost to complete the project as soon as possible.”
To our request to interpret this Joint Statement and in particular estimate Georgia’s position on this issue, former NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan replied, “In Kars, the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey became an original affirmation of solidarity between these three countries right after the state visit of Russian President Putin to Turkey. Turkey’s conduct is interesting from the perspective that being one of the member of the OSCE Minsk Group, this country, in fact, has neglected the Madrid principles put into circulation by the MG co-chairs, as together with Georgia and Azerbaijan, it had claimed that, among others, the Karabakh conflict must be resolved by the principle of priority of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
In other words, Turkey rejects the provision of the right to self-determination composing a part of the Madrid principles. This is not a surprise, but the important thing here is that the joint statement dedicated to the principles of normalization of conflicts can become the next act of Russia’s isolation. The Ukrainian crisis provided Russia’s isolation of land from the west, while the Kars tripartite meeting can become the beginning of the practical phase of blocking our northern great neighbor in the south by Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan line. It is important to note that Armenia, however, is left out of this line thanks to the common border with Iran.”
Turkologist, also senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Vahram Ter-Matevosyan noted that the join documents passed by the three foreign ministers singles out by the emphasis and suggested tasks. “This meeting was the next event proving the Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan growing relations. In the joint statement, we again witnessed the use of double standards on the problems concerning Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and the facts of selective interpretation of the international law.
Interestingly, how the Turkish foreign minister recognizes Georgia’s territorial integrity, but at the same time, is considered to be an important trading partner for Abkhazia, makes investments in Abkhazia, Deputy Foreign Minister visits Abkhazia and so on? While Azerbaijan, in the negotiations with Armenia, accepts the principle of the right to self-determination, however, meeting the same fate-sharing Georgia, falls into a stage of a “profound amnesia”. The reference to joint plans in the document (in particular, the Baku – Tbilisi-Kars railway) is an evidence of two undeniable realities. Turkey is becoming an indispensable telecommunications and energy hub in front of our eyes and is steadily moving in that direction; it was proved by cancellation of the “South Stream” and directing it toward Turkey, moreover, the fact of naming it a “Turkish Stream”.
As formulated by Miller, the Head of “Gazprom”, “Europe handed over the gas gate to Turkey.” The second factor refers to Georgia. Since 2004, our friendly and extremely important country for us has turned into a Turkey and Azerbaijan joint impact zone. The political, economic, financial, cultural, educational and humanitarian programs, which Turkey, and to a lesser degree, Azerbaijan carry out in Georgia, in their turn, give rise to some commitments that the Georgian authorities have to exercise. I hope that during the planned visit of the RA Prime Minister to Georgia, this and other related issues will be raised, and there will be a mutually beneficial discussion. I fully hope that the format of Armenia’s participation in the Kars-Tbilisi railway will also be considered.”
Johnny Melikyan, Political Scientist for the Regional Research Center of Public Administration Academy, also expert on Georgian Affairs, noted that the Kars meeting is sequential in the format of Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey tripartite partnership that has already become a traditional, which was started still under the previous administration of Georgia, in 2012.
“I must say that nothing extraordinary has happened, and Georgia, having territorial problems, always voted in favor of pro-Azerbaijani documents in various platforms, be it the OSCE, the UN or other platform. It’s another question that in addition to this tripartite format, there are also Armenian-Georgian traditional friendly relations. Our countries are at different integration systems, however, they still have a steady warm relationships, both passed year’s results and the interstate visits indicate that both sides have the conscious that the opportunities and desire to deepen the relations between our countries always existed.”
Melania BARSEGHYAN
