One dimension of the importance of Azerbaijan for Turkey, is the importance of Caspian energy sources for the World. Azerbaijan is Turkey’s gate to Turkish World. It is not possible for Turkey to have an efficient role in Middle Asia without Azerbaijan.
Briefly, the statements of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1921 in the opening ceremony of Azerbaijani Embassy is a summary for the issue, “Azerbaijan is a point of contact for reaching fellow nations and governments in the Middle Asia.”
Researches show that Turkish people are not towards opening of state border with Armenia unless Nagorno-Karabakh problem is solved. And the ratio of people that demand opening of borders with Armenia decreases. Reasons for necessity of opening of Armenian border are listed as;
— Commercial relations should be free of any other relations
— Opening of borders will be also towards Turkish interests.
The reasons for opening of Armenian border are all economical. On the other hand, one of the most dominant opinions are that Armenian market is not that important. The reasons for state border to be kept closed with Armenia are to urge Armenia to leave so called Armenian genocide allegations, todeoccupy Azerbaijani lands and to stop claiming Turkish land.
Azerbaijan’s opinion should be taken into consideration in the process of normalization of relations with Armenia. Commercial relations with Armenia could be accelerated following the agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
The proposal that Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev made to Armenia; initiation of commercial relations in return of deoccupation of a part of Azerbaijani lands may be carried to agenda once again. Turkey should underscore that relations with Armenia will not be healed unless Armenia deoccupies Azerbaijani lands and leaves its hostile attitude against Turkey.
Development of economical relations between Turkey and Armenia is more important for Armenia than it is for Turkey. Because Turkey is a route for Armenia for establishing contact with the World. On the other hand, Armenian market is small that it could be ignored. On the other hand, it is clear that Turkey-Armenia relations cannot be evaluated on commercial relations. Historical, political, social and economical aspects of the issue should be handled alltoghether. If opening of borders with Armenia is evaluated only by economical means, Turkey’s interests in the region might be damaged.
