International Strategical Researches Organization (ISRO) held a panel titled “Turkey-Armenia Relations and Protocols.”
Making a speech at the panel, retired Ambassador Engin Lutem said that Turkey opened a white page for solving her historical problems with Armenia following the collapse USSR. “Turkey was among the first countries that recognized independence of Armenia,” said he.
Stating that Turkey wishes to solve her problems with Armenia without establishing diplomatical relations, Lutem said, “This is a logical way. Armenia’s policy against Turkey was sometimes harsh and sometimes soft. Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan adopted a foreign policy against Turkey withtaking the harsh attitude of previous Armenian administrations into consideration.”
Lutem said, “Armenia signed protocols as the country did not want to be excluded from several regional projects in the Caucasus. Sarksyan has a policy of normalization of relations with Turkey but on the other hand he does not have a policy regarding to the resettlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Therefore, the process of normalization of relations between two countries is in stalemate after signing protocols.”
Associate Professor Kamer Kasim agreed that the process is in stalemate after signing protocols and said that Armenian nationalist are not comfortable with clauses in the protocols related to discussion of 1915 incidents.
Stressing that Armenia is out of Europe-Atlantic system, Kasim said that United States wants normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia for annexing Armenia to that system. “On the other hand, Russia is against shift of Armenia to that system,” said he.
Journalist Semih Idiz underscored that Armenian issue is the result of some sort of contradictory dynamics and said that allegations related to 1915 incidents should be evaluated as an issue that ossified in Armenian mentality. Stressing that no political party in Armenia can deny Armenian allegations related to 1915 incidents, Idizpointed out different dynamics in Turkey about discussions on this issue. “Armenia’s aim in the process of normalization is opening of borders and taking part in regional projects without resettlement of Karabakh conflict,” said he.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
