Usually reluctant to accept any third-party involvement in its conflicts, Turkey now resorts to Swiss mediation to improve its troubled relationship with Armenia, despite souring ties with the European country over the Swiss law penalizing the denial of the alleged Armenian genocide. As Turkey and Armenia try to sway public opinion about an eventual deal, Switzerland expresses commitment to the process given its traditional role in conflicts worldwide. The mediator in major regional conflicts including Israel-Syria, Iran's disputed nuclear program and last summer's Georgia-Russia war in the Caucasus, Turkey is now resorting to Swiss mediation to mend its own fences with neighboring Armenia.
Ankara's enthusiasm about playing the role of “facilitator” or “mediator” in its neighborhood has increased under the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government, and its foreign-policy architect, Ahmet Davutoglu, a move that goes hand in hand with efforts to revive Ottoman power in the Islamic world.
But when it comes to its own conflicts, Turkish foreign policymakers have not expressed much willingness to accept any third parties' involvement.
This is not the case with Armenia. A Turkish-Armenian joint road map announced in April on the eve of the U.S. presidential proclamation on the 1915 killings of Armenians, followed by last week's joint protocol, both referred to Switzerland as a mediator.
“We have not gone to Switzerland and asked them to mediate; the request came from them,” said a Turkish diplomat who wished to remain anonymous.
While Turkey and Armenia attempt to sway public opinion in their respective countries in favor of an eventual deal to better their troubled relations, Switzerland expresses its commitment to the process given its traditional role in conflicts worldwide.
“This is a confident position. The Swiss foreign policy, on very many occasions, has answered favorably to requests of assistance by other countries, if you take a look at the history of the 1950s and 1960s,” said another diplomatic source, explaining the Swiss role.
Discreet talks
In order to ensure the continuity of the process, Swiss diplomats remain very discreet about their support and what they could do. “We are committed to helping both parties move ahead,” the source said. “In that sense, we are not very transparent about our assistance. We are available and, of course, we congratulate both parties for the advance.”
Switzerland was the venue for secret talks between Turkish and Armenian diplomats beginning in 2007, before they were made public and raised to the foreign-ministerial level early this year.
“We have been asked by both sides. It is a traditional Swiss attitude to be available,” the source said. “The main purpose is to solve the situation that needs a solution and we will be ready to help as long as the parties need us.”
Questions over Swiss availability
Turkey's ties with Switzerland, however, soured when the Swiss parliament passed a 2003 resolution recognizing the alleged Armenian genocide and adopted a law penalizing its denial.
Swiss officials say the law is about neither Turkey nor Armenia, saying the government, which has no control over judicial cases, believes the 1915 events should be dealt with by historians.
“It is a specific article in the Swiss penal code that was designed to prevent and punish the negation of genocide. Prosecutors receive complaints, but without any advice or intervention from the Swiss federal executive,” said the source, who added that the Swiss government has repeatedly said the 1915 killings should not be discussed by
“That is the position of the Swiss executive, so there is no point in trying to imagine that there is a relationship between specific penal cases in Switzerland and the quality of Swiss availability to help Armenia and Turkey,” the same source said.
Worldwide role
The Swiss role of mediation is not restricted to aiding Turkish-Armenian relations. The latest initiative involves regional rivals Georgia and Russia, which went to war last year.
“We accepted to represent the Russian interests in Georgia and the Georgian interests in Russia. Though we do not appear as a facilitator, we have a plain mandate according to international law, operating since March of this year, to represent consular affairs,” said the diplomatic source.
Russia and Georgia rushed to get Swiss help to take over their interests in each other's capitals after the two countries broke off diplomatic relations. “That means we are there not in a political role, but to ensure that the consular-affairs section continue operating under the Swiss,” the source added. “It is another expression of the capacity we want to have in order to be impartial and help countries.”
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