Views on the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations
* Armenia
The international community will increase the pressure on Turkey in the near future, since it’s because of Turkey that the Armenian-Turkish process has slowed down or even stopped, Director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies Richard Giragosian told a press conference today.
According to the analyst, by severely criticizing the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court Turkey is attempting to create a non-fair political reason to lay the burden on Armenia.”However, this strategy did not work because they did not get support either from the Americans or the Russians. In both cases Turkey received the same message – Karabakh is not linked to the protocols, and Turkey should ratify the protocols within a reasonable timeframe.’
* Turkey
Spokesman for Turkish Foreign Ministry Burak Ozugergin said they sincerely want to normalize the relations with Armenia, Anadolu agency reported.
At the briefing Ozugergin mentioned the statement issued by Turkish Foreign Ministry after the decision of Armenia’s Constitutional Court. He said Armenia was carrying out a campaign that Turkey had changed its view.
“Turkey has not changed its view. Our position has not changed. There is no problem in Turkey’s policy with regard to Armenia, there is a problem in Armenia’s policy regarding Turkey,” he said.
According to Ozugergin, Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu will visit the US and Switzerland and explain Ankara’s concern over the decision of Armenia’s Constitutional Court. He noted that there had been some progress in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh.
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A top Turkish diplomat will travel to Switzerland today to seek support over an Armenian court ruling that Ankara says threatens historic reconciliation deals with Yerevan.
Feridun Sinirlioğlu, undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will later travel to the United States.
* USA
President Serzh Sargsyan received the Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg and his delegation, which comprises the Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon, the Ambassador of the United States to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, and other officials.
The Deputy Secretary of State hailed Armenia’s efforts aimed at the resolution of regional issues. He reiterated the importance of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations for the United States, and said that the US stands ready to assist the parties in the process. James Steinberg once again underlined the position of the American side regarding the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, noting that it was a positive step which will help to maintain the process. The American diplomat also noted that the parties should display political will to continue the process.
*
Stronger U.S. pressure on Turkey is essential for salvaging its fence-mending agreements with Armenia and the administration of President Barack Obama understands that, according to a renowned U.S. scholar who was actively involved in Turkish-Armenian reconciliation initiatives.
In an interview with RFE/RL on Thursday, David Phillips also criticized Ankara’s linkage between the implementation of those agreements and a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. He dismissed Turkish claims that a recent ruling by the Armenian Constitutional Court ran counter to key provisions of the Turkish-Armenian “protocols” signed in October.
Phillips, who coordinated the work of the U.S.-sponsored Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) in 2001-2004, further said that Armenia should not rush to walk away from the deal. But he stressed that its ratification by the Turkish parliament can not be “an open-ended process.”
“If these protocols fall apart and there is a diplomatic train wreck, it will have a serious adverse effect on U.S.-Turkish relations,” he said. “And this comes at a time when the U.S. is seeking Turkey’s cooperation on Iran, when Turkey is playing an increasingly important role in Afghanistan and during the wrap-up to redeployment from Iraq.
“The Obama administration knows full well that these protocols should go forward because it is in the interests of Turkey and Armenia. It is also in America’s interests to keep the process moving forward so that U.S.-Turkish cooperation is in effect.”
* France
“What happened in 1915 is unbearable and impossible,” world-known French composer Michel Legrand when hosted in the South Russia Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
“The fact that Turkey does not wish to recognize the Armenian Genocide means that it will never be accepted to the European community. Currently the relations between Armenia and Turkey are normalizing. It’s good, but it would be better if Turkey returned the territories it has stolen from Armenia. However, I understand how hard it is,” the composer said, Yerkramas newspaper informs.
Asked whether he feels being an Armenian, Mr. Legrand said: “Yes, I feel myself an Armenian. Although I was born in Paris and spent most of my life in Europe, part of me is Armenians. It is the intellectual part of me, because I’m familiar with Armenian culture and Armenian music. I have read a lot about the history of my ancient and wonderful country, a sad history full of horrible events, which continues into a new, prospering Armenia."
