Interview with Cem Oguz, head of Turkey's International Centre for Strategic Studies.
Q: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform soon after the August war between Georgia and Russia, but not much has been said about this recently.
A: This is really a very good idea. Being well aware of the developments in this region, I have always supported such initiatives. Yet, I do not think the idea is realistic in the current conditions and with Armenia's current approach to this issue. Turkey has done everything possible to strengthen Armenia’s development and cooperation in the region. But the signals we receive from Armenia today show that the leadership of this country has neither the will nor the desire for this.
Q: Will the platform remain just an idea?
A: Regardless of how attractive this idea might seem, I do not think it will be implemented.
Q: You mentioned that the problem lies with Armenia. What would be the right conditions for the creation of such a platform?
A: First of all, Armenia should normalize relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Turkish policy was initially based on the postulate that closing borders with Armenia was connected with its territorial claims on Turkey and Azerbaijan. The provisions we set Armenia were the following: they must disavow these territorial claims and withdraw troops from Azerbaijani land.
Q: Are changes in Turkey’s approach to the conflict settlement possible?
A: As Zbigniew Brzezinski says, foreign policy is like flying a jet as radical manoeuvres are impossible in both cases. In this case Turkey’s foreign policy will be unable to take radical steps. Relations with Armenia will not move on unless these two provisions are fulfilled, unfortunately.
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