Armenian political scientist Tigran Torosyan wrote for Russian news agency Regnum about Turkey’s increasing influence in South Caucasus and the relations between Turkey and Armenia following the war between Russia and Georgia.
Armenian expert wrote that Turkey set forth preconditions for opening of state borders and establishment of diplomatic relations with Armenia. He said that Turkey wants Armenia to give up efforts for international recognition of so called Armenian genocide and to return occupied regions back to Azerbaijan. Torosyan wrote,
“Armenia’s attitude did not change since 15 years: Diplomatic relations should be established, borders should be opened without preconditions, and any other problem should be negotiated afterwards. A few initiative towards adducting the attitudes of two countries towards each other was not successful. In the summer of 2008, newly elected Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan made an extraordinary step and invited Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan for watching the soccer game between national teams of Turkey and Armenia. Invitation was accepted on the day before the match.
Several expert stated that Turkish President Abdullah Gul accepted invitation because of the situation in South Caucasus following the August war between Russia and Georgia and for developing Turkish initiative ’Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform’.“
Torosyan stated that Gul’s visit to Armenia which lasted a few hours became one of the most important arguments of Turkish foreign policy. He said that Turkey is using the situation the increase its influence in the region, to strengthen its position in the international field (temporary seat at UN Security Council, process of EU membership etc.), developing its relations with Russia and United States and to prevent recognition of so called Armenian genocide.
Armenian expert wrote that Turkey was holding an elastic policy and making Armenia think that the process of normalization was going on without any preconditions. He wrote, “Foreign Minister Ali Babacan was making optimistic statements, Turkish President was mentioning how Turkey is decisive about normalization and meantime Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan was telling that these problems will be solved following the resettlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”
“This process continued till Turkey and Armenia signed the ’roadmap’ agreement and made a joint statement in the mediation of Swiss officials in Switzerland on April 23th,” said he.
Stating that it became a tradition for U. S. Presidents to make a speech on April 24, the day for commemorating victims of so called Armenian genocide, Armenian political scientist wrote that Obama used the word “genocide” several times when he was a Senator and that he promised he will not change his stance after he is elected as President. Torosyan said,
“During the visit of American President to Turkey, an American journalist asked Obama a question about the relations between Turkey and Armenia using the word “genocide” within the question. U. S. President stated that he did not change his opinion about this issue and that he hopes for normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.
The day before the speech of Obama, Foreign Ministers made this statement; “Armenia and Turkey has agreed on a comprehensive frame that satisfies both sides towards normalization of relations. And a ’roadmap’ for normalization of relations is prepared.” Armenia and Turkey made a statement about a ’roadmap’ agreement but they did not publish it. And that created question marks about the process of normalization and caused strain in the relations between Armenia and Armenian diaspora.“
Statting that Obama did not use the word “genocide” on the day for commemoration of so called Armenian genocide, Torosyan said Armenia did not gain anything from process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.
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