Armenia: Turkey Protocols - Azerbaijan's reaction
AZERBAIJAN CONCERNED ABOUT TURKISH-ARMENIAN RAPPROACHMENT
Today's Zaman
Sept 2 2009
Turkey
There is an increasing concern in Azerbaijan with respect to
the attempt to establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and
Armenia. Experts believe anti-Turkish sentiments in Azerbaijan
may grow.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry made a statement yesterday on its Web
site saying, "In principle, it is Turkey's sovereign right to establish
relations with Armenia." However, the statement also emphasized that
the issue has a direct relation to Azerbaijan's national interests
and "the opening of the border is in direct opposition to Azerbaijani
national interests."
Recalling Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's speech before
Azerbaijani deputies at the parliament in mid-May, the statement
reads: "The prime minister reassured Azerbaijan that the borders were
closed due to Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories. In
this respect, Turkey will open the borders only if Armenia withdraws
from Azerbaijan's occupied territories." While the statement did not
ensure that Turkey's attempt to normalize relations with Armenia was
on track, it clearly stated Turkey's promise not to open the borders.
Elkhan Pokhulov, head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's media
department, told Today's Zaman, "Azerbaijan considers the relations
between Turkey and Armenia as relations between two sovereign states,
yet Azerbaijan's national interests should be considered." Pokhulov
also added that Turkey has declared many times that there cannot
be an opening of borders. "If it opens," Pokhulov stressed, "it is
in opposition to Azerbaijan's national interests." Addressing the
question of whether Turkey consulted with Azerbaijan with respect to
the issue, Pokhulov said: "Turkey and Azerbaijan constantly inform
each other of developments. However, we have no information about
whether Turkey informed us of this particular policy."
"The situation in Azerbaijan will be even worse," said RövÅ~_en
Ä°brahimov, a professor at Baku Qafqaz University. "It was too sudden,"
he said. Two weeks ago Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan vowed that
he would not attend the soccer match between Armenia and Turkey
in October. Noting the troubling trend with Armenia, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry has decided to restart negotiations with Armenia to
establish close diplomatic ties. "I believe this is the true success
of [Serzh] Sarksyan. Who can now claim that there is a single reason
why Turkey should keep the borders closed? The next step is to
institute diplomatic relations and then open the borders. Turkey
de facto recognizes Armenia and now will de jure recognize it,"
he said. He also argued that the Azerbaijani public believes that
it once put pressure on Turkey and succeeded and it may do the same
again. Questioning the future of the Nabucco project, Ä°brahimov said:
"This fact may also put Nabucco in jeopardy. Azerbaijan may think of
selling all its gas to Russia."
Vefa Guluzade, a prominent expert and former national security advisor
to late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, said Turkey is playing
a dangerous game. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Guluzade said, "Turkey
could not stand up to pressure from Russia and the US and thereby has
decided to start the negotiations again." Recalling Hillary Clinton's
telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
Guluzade claimed that instead of behaving on the basis of Clinton's
promises, the Turkish government should instead act following the
fulfillment of Clinton's promises. Clinton had previously said the
American administration would help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Guluzade said her promises are not real and that during Bill
Clinton's tenure, the American administration was too fragile for
a strong Armenian lobby in the US. Guluzade also concluded that the
Azerbaijani public will explicitly respond to the recent agreement
between Turkey and Armenia and that there will be huge disappointment
among the Azerbaijani public. The government, in contrast, may keep
silent due to international conjecture.
Today's Zaman
Sept 2 2009
Turkey
There is an increasing concern in Azerbaijan with respect to
the attempt to establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and
Armenia. Experts believe anti-Turkish sentiments in Azerbaijan
may grow.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry made a statement yesterday on its Web
site saying, "In principle, it is Turkey's sovereign right to establish
relations with Armenia." However, the statement also emphasized that
the issue has a direct relation to Azerbaijan's national interests
and "the opening of the border is in direct opposition to Azerbaijani
national interests."
Recalling Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's speech before
Azerbaijani deputies at the parliament in mid-May, the statement
reads: "The prime minister reassured Azerbaijan that the borders were
closed due to Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories. In
this respect, Turkey will open the borders only if Armenia withdraws
from Azerbaijan's occupied territories." While the statement did not
ensure that Turkey's attempt to normalize relations with Armenia was
on track, it clearly stated Turkey's promise not to open the borders.
Elkhan Pokhulov, head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's media
department, told Today's Zaman, "Azerbaijan considers the relations
between Turkey and Armenia as relations between two sovereign states,
yet Azerbaijan's national interests should be considered." Pokhulov
also added that Turkey has declared many times that there cannot
be an opening of borders. "If it opens," Pokhulov stressed, "it is
in opposition to Azerbaijan's national interests." Addressing the
question of whether Turkey consulted with Azerbaijan with respect to
the issue, Pokhulov said: "Turkey and Azerbaijan constantly inform
each other of developments. However, we have no information about
whether Turkey informed us of this particular policy."
"The situation in Azerbaijan will be even worse," said RövÅ~_en
Ä°brahimov, a professor at Baku Qafqaz University. "It was too sudden,"
he said. Two weeks ago Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan vowed that
he would not attend the soccer match between Armenia and Turkey
in October. Noting the troubling trend with Armenia, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry has decided to restart negotiations with Armenia to
establish close diplomatic ties. "I believe this is the true success
of [Serzh] Sarksyan. Who can now claim that there is a single reason
why Turkey should keep the borders closed? The next step is to
institute diplomatic relations and then open the borders. Turkey
de facto recognizes Armenia and now will de jure recognize it,"
he said. He also argued that the Azerbaijani public believes that
it once put pressure on Turkey and succeeded and it may do the same
again. Questioning the future of the Nabucco project, Ä°brahimov said:
"This fact may also put Nabucco in jeopardy. Azerbaijan may think of
selling all its gas to Russia."
Vefa Guluzade, a prominent expert and former national security advisor
to late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, said Turkey is playing
a dangerous game. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Guluzade said, "Turkey
could not stand up to pressure from Russia and the US and thereby has
decided to start the negotiations again." Recalling Hillary Clinton's
telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
Guluzade claimed that instead of behaving on the basis of Clinton's
promises, the Turkish government should instead act following the
fulfillment of Clinton's promises. Clinton had previously said the
American administration would help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Guluzade said her promises are not real and that during Bill
Clinton's tenure, the American administration was too fragile for
a strong Armenian lobby in the US. Guluzade also concluded that the
Azerbaijani public will explicitly respond to the recent agreement
between Turkey and Armenia and that there will be huge disappointment
among the Azerbaijani public. The government, in contrast, may keep
silent due to international conjecture.
AZERBAIJANI MEDIA OUTLETS EXPRESS DEEP EMOTIONAL
OUTBREAKS TOWARDS TURKEY
Panorama.am
13:41 02/09/2009
Azerbaijani mass media representatives have expressed deep
emotional outbreaks towards the protocols singed between Armenia and
Turkey. Azerbaijani mass media outlets have even expressed serious
hostile moods towards Turkey.
Azerbaijani "Khalgabhesi" internet site published a story covering the
signed protocols. It is said that once Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
Prime Minister R.T. Erdogan and Foreign Minister A. Davutoglu ensured
Azerbaijan that unless the occupied territories are liberated borders
with Armenia will not be opened. "Turkey will never betray Azerbaijan,
Turkey guarantees that. Those guarantees cost nothing," Azerbaijani
media writes.
"History will record the betray of Turkish people towards Azerbaijani
Turkish. I call on to raise a voice of protest towards Turkey,"
writes the author of the story.
Panorama.am
13:41 02/09/2009
Azerbaijani mass media representatives have expressed deep
emotional outbreaks towards the protocols singed between Armenia and
Turkey. Azerbaijani mass media outlets have even expressed serious
hostile moods towards Turkey.
Azerbaijani "Khalgabhesi" internet site published a story covering the
signed protocols. It is said that once Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
Prime Minister R.T. Erdogan and Foreign Minister A. Davutoglu ensured
Azerbaijan that unless the occupied territories are liberated borders
with Armenia will not be opened. "Turkey will never betray Azerbaijan,
Turkey guarantees that. Those guarantees cost nothing," Azerbaijani
media writes.
"History will record the betray of Turkish people towards Azerbaijani
Turkish. I call on to raise a voice of protest towards Turkey,"
writes the author of the story.
POLITICIANS AND EXPERTS OF AZERBAIJAN DISPLEASED WITH
ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND
TURKEY
ArmInfo-TURAN
2009-09-02 12:00:00
"I think this is betrayal of Azerbaijan's interests and deception
of Turkish and Azerbaijani publicity. This is contrary to Premier
Erdogan's promises he has given to our Deputies and publicity in Baku,"
political scientist Vafa Guluzada told Turan while commenting on the
statement about establishment of relationships released by Armenian
and Turkish Foreign Ministries.
"Erdogan government's policy is contrary to interests of the Turkish
society and it will cause damage to Turkey's image," Guluzada said. He
did not rule out that Azerbaijani officials can make some steps against
Turkey, which may be related to the plans to transport hydrocarbons
via Turkey.
Eldar Namazov, chief of the Public Forum in the Name of Azerbaijan,
said: "It looks like Ankara and Yerevan are going to establish
diplomatic relationships, but opening of borders and economic
cooperation is postponed till the next stage." Namazov said: "it has
been planned to establish diplomatic relationships between Armenia
and Turkey within six weeks for Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
to attend the football match between the two countries without losing
a face."
Namazov believes that Armenia and Turkey will be unable to fully
establish relationships till settlement of the Karabakh conflict and
liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.
Questioned if diplomatic relationships between Turkey and Armenia
affect relationships between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Namazov answered
this is a stage-by-stage process and Ankara will negotiate each step
with Azerbaijan.
"Last week the two countries' leaders had a telephone conversation and
Turkey has sent a high-ranking delegation of the Foreign Ministry to
Baku," Namazov said. In any case Baku will watch closely development
of situation, he added.
Musavat party's leader said: "As far as I know, opening of border
with Armenia has not been inserted into the protocol. We need to be
careful with assessments."
Expert Arastun Orujlu said the current situation is a logical result
of the Turkish-Armenian relationships in the past years.
"The current Turkish authorities do not take into account Azerbaijan's
interests," Orujlu said. He added that Azerbaijan's position has
weakened and it can be interpreted as defeat.
"Turkey's step is also a result of tension in the relationships between
Azerbaijan and Turkey," he said. Baku's pressure on Ankara in March
2009 was absolutely groundless. "Now Azerbaijan is alone and it must
determine priorities of its foreign policy," political scientist said.
ArmInfo-TURAN
2009-09-02 12:00:00
"I think this is betrayal of Azerbaijan's interests and deception
of Turkish and Azerbaijani publicity. This is contrary to Premier
Erdogan's promises he has given to our Deputies and publicity in Baku,"
political scientist Vafa Guluzada told Turan while commenting on the
statement about establishment of relationships released by Armenian
and Turkish Foreign Ministries.
"Erdogan government's policy is contrary to interests of the Turkish
society and it will cause damage to Turkey's image," Guluzada said. He
did not rule out that Azerbaijani officials can make some steps against
Turkey, which may be related to the plans to transport hydrocarbons
via Turkey.
Eldar Namazov, chief of the Public Forum in the Name of Azerbaijan,
said: "It looks like Ankara and Yerevan are going to establish
diplomatic relationships, but opening of borders and economic
cooperation is postponed till the next stage." Namazov said: "it has
been planned to establish diplomatic relationships between Armenia
and Turkey within six weeks for Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian
to attend the football match between the two countries without losing
a face."
Namazov believes that Armenia and Turkey will be unable to fully
establish relationships till settlement of the Karabakh conflict and
liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.
Questioned if diplomatic relationships between Turkey and Armenia
affect relationships between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Namazov answered
this is a stage-by-stage process and Ankara will negotiate each step
with Azerbaijan.
"Last week the two countries' leaders had a telephone conversation and
Turkey has sent a high-ranking delegation of the Foreign Ministry to
Baku," Namazov said. In any case Baku will watch closely development
of situation, he added.
Musavat party's leader said: "As far as I know, opening of border
with Armenia has not been inserted into the protocol. We need to be
careful with assessments."
Expert Arastun Orujlu said the current situation is a logical result
of the Turkish-Armenian relationships in the past years.
"The current Turkish authorities do not take into account Azerbaijan's
interests," Orujlu said. He added that Azerbaijan's position has
weakened and it can be interpreted as defeat.
"Turkey's step is also a result of tension in the relationships between
Azerbaijan and Turkey," he said. Baku's pressure on Ankara in March
2009 was absolutely groundless. "Now Azerbaijan is alone and it must
determine priorities of its foreign policy," political scientist said.
OFFICIAL BAKU SAYS AGREEMENT CONCERNS TWO STATES ONLY
Panorama.am
17:47 01/09/2009
Azerbaijan is attentive to the recent developments between Armenia
and Turkey. "CNN Turk" reports that Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has
already officially commented on those developments.
Official message of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry states: "We are
not concerned about that protocol. The agreement made between Armenia
and Turkey concerns only the two states."
TURKEY TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH ARMENIA AFTER FULL RESOLUTION
Panorama.am
17:47 01/09/2009
Azerbaijan is attentive to the recent developments between Armenia
and Turkey. "CNN Turk" reports that Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has
already officially commented on those developments.
Official message of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry states: "We are
not concerned about that protocol. The agreement made between Armenia
and Turkey concerns only the two states."
TURKEY TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH ARMENIA AFTER FULL RESOLUTION
OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: FM
Today.Az
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan
Turkey wants to normalize relations with Armenia, but also wants
full normalization of relations in the South Caucasus, including
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkey wants to go beyond establishing ties with Armenia and normalize
relations across the South Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told Reuters on Monday.
Davutoglu also spoke of opening the border between Armenia and Turkey's
Muslim ally Azerbaijan. He did not specify any other borders.
"We want to normalize our relations with Armenia, but we also want
full normalization of relations in the South Caucasus, including
Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.
"This would provide a stable, sustainable peace and stability in our
region. The Caucasus has already suffered a lot from ethnic tension
and frozen conflicts," he said.
"We know very well from our experiences in the Caucasus and Balkans
that frozen conflicts are like bombs in our hands and if we cannot
control them, they could blow up in our hands," the minister said.
"We hope that the international community after this step will focus
on frozen conflicts in the region, especially Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Davutoglu added.
Today.Az
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan
Turkey wants to normalize relations with Armenia, but also wants
full normalization of relations in the South Caucasus, including
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkey wants to go beyond establishing ties with Armenia and normalize
relations across the South Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told Reuters on Monday.
Davutoglu also spoke of opening the border between Armenia and Turkey's
Muslim ally Azerbaijan. He did not specify any other borders.
"We want to normalize our relations with Armenia, but we also want
full normalization of relations in the South Caucasus, including
Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.
"This would provide a stable, sustainable peace and stability in our
region. The Caucasus has already suffered a lot from ethnic tension
and frozen conflicts," he said.
"We know very well from our experiences in the Caucasus and Balkans
that frozen conflicts are like bombs in our hands and if we cannot
control them, they could blow up in our hands," the minister said.
"We hope that the international community after this step will focus
on frozen conflicts in the region, especially Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Davutoglu added.
OPENING OF ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER WITHOUT RESOLUTION
OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT CONTRADICTS AZERBAIJAN'S
NATIONAL INTERESTS: FOREIGN MINISTRYArmInfo
2009-09-01 14:25:00
ArmInfo. "Azerbaijan's position on opening of Armenia-Turkey border is
based on numerous statements by Turkey's senior officials," Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Elkhan Polukhov said. "However,
given that this issue directly affects Azerbaijan's national
interests, opening of Armenia-Turkey border without resolution of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict contradicts national
interests of Azerbaijan," Polukhov said, Day.az reported.
"Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry once again states that
determining relations with other states is a sovereign right of every
state," the source reported.
On August 31 Turkey and Armenia agreed on opening of the Armenian
border in 2 month after the Protocol On Development of Bilateral
Relations comes into effect, says the document "Measures of
Fulfillment" of the Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations
between Armenia and Turkey. The document says that the parties have
agreed also to conduct regular political consultations of foreign
political departments of the two states. In addition, Armenia and
Turkey have pledged to launch a dialogue to settle historical disputes
and restore mutual confidence. The parties have agreed to set up an
impartial group to study the archived documents to define the existing
problems and develop recommendations, the document says.
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