Roadmap agreement between Turkey and Armenia
A process of rapprochement started between Turkey and Armenia following the visit of President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan for watching the soccer game between Turkish and Armenian national teams. Later, it is stated on April 23 that Turkey and Armenia agreed on a ’roadmap’ in the mediation of Switzerland towards normalization of bilateral relations. As a result of this initiative, Obama did not use the term “genocide” during his April 24th speech and preferred to define 1915 events as “great calamity.” The most concrete clause of ’roadmap’ agreement between Turkey and Armenia was opening of state borders.
But following the harsh reactions of Azerbaijan, Ankara assured Azerbaijan that the borders between Turkey and Armenia will not be opened unless the dispute of Nagorno-Karabakh is not resolved.
After that stage, the ’roadmap’ agreement is never mentioned again.
Being uncomfortable with this development, Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan stated that he will come to Turkey to watch the soccer game between Turkish and Armenian national teams in Bursa, only if the borders between two country are open or two countries are at the threshold of removal of the blockade against Armenia. Armenian political scientist Armen Gevorgyan criticized Armenian President’s statements and said, “Do not make such primitive steps but make steps towards dialogue despite Turkey’s attitude.”
Thus, important steps towards resolution of a dispute with a neighbour is left half finished. But there is time till October 14th. We cannot know what kind of developments will take place till that time.
The thing we know is that the solution of the problems is not possible with “wait and see” method. We know that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu struggling for providing a concrete development in this issue. Besides, the most constructive statement is made by him; “The cold war in Turkish-Armenian relations is over, two countries do not see each other as enemies anymore.”
If we consider all these developments, we see that it is high time for a diplomatic initiative towards solution of the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, ending the occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh and realization of the ’roadmap’ agreement between Turkey and Armenia. There should not be hostility and closed borders between two neighbouring countries in this age. As Foreign Minister Davutoglu said, “The cold war is over.” We hope that steps can be made as soon as possible and we can see Sarksyan, Aliyev and Gul at the same table.
H. İbrahim CAN / Yeni Asya
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
