Armenia:Turkey Protocols - from the Turkish Press‏

(the following is the only article so far on the normally vocal Turkish Weekly website)

Canada Says Welcomes Turkey-Armenia Thaw
Friday, 4 September 2009

Canada said Friday it welcomed an agreement

between Turkey and Armenia to start internal political consultations

to establish diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral

relations.

"The normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will not only benefit

both nations and their citizens, but also enhance stability, security and

development within their turbulent and vital neighbourhood," Lawrence

Cannon, the Canadian foreign minister, said in a statement on Friday.

The statement also recalled that Cannon recently met with Turkish

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul, where he stressed the

importance of dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia said earlier this week they had agreed on "starting

internal political consultations" to establish diplomatic ties and develop

bilateral relations, and submitting two related protocols to their respective

parliaments for ratification within six weeks.

US ARMENIANS INSIST ON 'GENOCIDE RECOGNITION'
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 3 2009
Turkey

As Turkey and Armenia step up efforts to normalize their relations,
two top U.S. Armenian groups said forcing Turkey to accept what they
called the "Armenian genocide" remained their top-priority objective.

Turkey and Armenia jointly announced Aug. 31 that they would work
to sign a document to formally establish diplomatic ties within six
weeks. They also pledged to work toward other aspects of normalization,
including reopening the land border.

The radical Armenian National Committee of America, or ANCA,
qualified the move as a Turkish effort to gain time to avoid "genocide
recognition," while the more moderate Armenian Assembly of America,
or AAA, said it supported normalization between Armenia and Turkey
but that "genocide recognition" was still a top issue.

Turkey recognized Armenia's independence in 1991, but has refused to
set up diplomatic relations in protest of Armenia's aggression in a
war with Azerbaijan, Ankara's close friend and ally. Turkey closed
its land border with Armenia in 1993.

Armenians qualify World War I-era killings of their kinsmen in the
Ottoman Empire as genocide. Turkey rejects the term, saying both
Armenians and Muslims were killed in ethnic strife during the last
years of the Ottoman Empire.

Ankara and Yerevan first said in April that they had launched a
normalization process, backed by the United States.

But ANCA said in a statement on Wednesday that the latest move by
Turkey and Armenia was meant to serve only Turkish interests.

Radical Armenians criticize 'Turkish tactic'

"This provision, a tactic long pursued by Ankara to cast doubt
on the historical record of the Armenian genocide, is intended to
serve Turkey's drive to roll back the growing tide of international
recognition of this crime against humanity," said Aram Hamparian,
ANCA's executive director, according to the statement.

"There can be no enduring relationship between Armenia and Turkey
that is not built upon the foundation of Turkey's acceptance of a
true and just resolution of this crime," he said.

Hamparian's remarks were conveyed to the members of the U.S. Congress,
the statement said.

The AAA said it "supports normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey" but that this should be done without Turkish precondition.

In a written statement, the AAA said it urged "President [Barack]
Obama and the U.S. Congress to unequivocally affirm the Armenian
genocide. In so doing, the United States will honor a proud chapter
in U.S. history in helping to save the survivors of the first genocide
of the 20th century."

"We recall Turkey's ample track record of unfulfilled promises. As
such, many remain skeptical as prior governments of Armenia had also
offered to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions only
to be rebuffed," it said.

OPPOSITION: NO VOTE FOR PROTOCOLS UNLESS NAGORNO

OCCUPATION ENDS
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 3 2009
Turkey

The two main opposition parties have said they will not back the
normalization process with Armenia without the withdrawal of Armenian
forces from Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"We will not go to vote in favor of the protocols at Parliament
unless the occupation ends," Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican
People's Party, or CHP, said during a party meeting late Wednesday,
the Anatolia news agency reported.

Baykal emphasized that although the protocols set a clear dateline
for the opening of the common border with Armenia, it does not give
assurances on Armenia's withdrawal from Azerbaijani lands. Recalling
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's promise to Azerbaijan not to
open the border before the Nagorno-Karabakh problem was settled, Baykal
said the government obviously ran into a contradiction with the move.

He also said taking the protocols to Parliament were obligatory and
not a government pledge to the opposition. "The issues that were
introduced as Armenia's compromises have no validity in fact. What we
have to see is our compromises. It's not certain on what conditions
these compromises were made," he said.

Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP,
accused the ruling party of ignoring Turkey's national interests
and its closest ally, Azerbaijan. "We'll not vote in favor of
the protocols," he said, in a written statement. However, as the
ratification of international documents requires a simple majority,
the ruling party will have no need for the support of the opposition.


ARMENIAN DIASPORA REFLECTS BOTH ANGER AND BALANCED

ATTITUDE
Today's Zaman
Sept 4 2009
Turkey

The tone of the reactions of two leading US-based Armenian diaspora
organizations to the news of Armenia and Turkey's agreement to
establish diplomatic relations and open their joint border differ
considerably from each other, with one of them urging Washington
to swiftly recognize the killings of Anatolian Armenians during the
World War I as genocide while the other cautiously welcomed the news.

Armenia and Turkey announced late on Monday that they have agreed
to begin internal political consultations on the two protocols -- a
protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations and a protocol
on the development of bilateral relations -- which have been initiated
through the course of efforts under Swiss-facilitated mediation.

Only a day after the announcement, on Tuesday, the Washington-based
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) sent a memo to offices
at both the US Senate and the House of Representatives, sharing with
members of Congress the reservations members of the Armenian-American
community have regarding the protocols.

"ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian alerted these offices to the
undue pressure applied to Armenia to accept dangerous concessions
and informed legislators on both sides of Capitol Hill about Turkey's
rapid backtracking from even the minor commitments it had undertaken
in these agreements," ANCA announced.

"Among [ANCA's] primary concerns is that Armenia, blockaded by Turkey
and under intense economic and diplomatic pressure, was forced
into accepting terms that threaten her interests, rights, safety,
and future -- very notably in the form of a proposed 'historical
commission.' This provision, a tactic long pursued by Ankara to cast
doubt on the historical record of the Armenian Genocide, is intended
to serve Turkey's drive to roll back the growing tide of international
recognition of this crime against humanity. There can be no enduring
relationship between Armenia and Turkey that is not built upon the
foundation of Turkey's acceptance of a true and just resolution of
this crime," Hamparian said.

Hamparian was apparently referring to the protocol on the development
of relations between Armenia and Turkey which says that the two
countries have agreed to "implement a dialogue on the historical
dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two
nations, including an impartial scientific examination of historical
records and archives to define existing problems and formulate
recommendations."

Another Washington-based diaspora organization, the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA), meanwhile, stated that the announcement by Armenia
and Turkey is consistent with the US position that normalization of
relations between Armenia and Turkey proceed without preconditions.

"Armenian authorities have also made it clear that no preconditions
means just that -- no linkage to progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace talks and no conditions on affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
or debating whether a genocide occurred through a commission-style
process," AAA said in a statement released Wednesday.

"The Armenian Assembly supports normalization of relations between
Armenia and Turkey without preconditions. The United States has spoken
clearly about the need for Turkey to lift its blockade and establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia. Turkey's lifting of its blockade
against Armenia and opening the border is not only long overdue but
obligated under international treaties. For this long-awaited effort
to succeed, it is incumbent that the United States require Turkey to
adhere to its commitments with respect to Armenia," AAA said. Yet it
also noted that it "recalls Turkey's ample track record of unfulfilled
promises."

"Moreover, it is of particular concern that on the same day as
the joint statement released by the Armenian and Turkish foreign
ministries regarding the start of consultations to establish diplomatic
relations that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sent mixed
signals. Foreign Minister Davutoglu not only indicated that the opening
of the border would be 'a long process,' but also stated that Turkey
would guard Azerbaijan's interests," AAA noted.

Armenian nationalists protest Turkey ties In Yerevan, meanwhile,
around 1,000 Armenian nationalists protested on Wednesday against the
historic thaw in relations with neighboring Turkey, underscoring the
risks involved in the rapprochement.

Nationalists in Armenia say there can be no thaw unless
Turkey recognizes the World War I killings and deportations as
genocide. Ankara rejects the term, saying many people died on both
sides of the conflict.

Police estimated some 1,000 supporters of the nationalist Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, known as Dashnaktsutyun, protested outside
the Foreign Ministry, holding the flags of Armenia and the breakaway
mountain region of Nagorno-Karabakh. "This document puts into doubt
the Armenian genocide, the question of compensation and the right to
our historical homeland," said Dashnaktsutyun official Gegham Manukyan.


Radikal, Turkey
Sept 2 2009
Background of Protocol Signed With Armenia
by Murat Yetkin

When Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu came out of his meeting with
Bashar al-Asad at the Presidential Palace in Damascus it was past the
evening meal that breaks the Ramadan fast. The entire Turkish
delegation went to the Noble Palace Restaurant, which is one of the
best restaurants in Damascus. After breaking his fast, Davutoglu
teasingly asked: "Have you been able to transmit your reports?" Erdal
Safak had reportedly experienced a technical problem and he had not
been able to transmit his article to Sabah. Davutoglu continued to
teasingly say: "Never mind, there will be another report shortly and
you will write about it."

The telephone of Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu, new under secretary
of the Foreign Ministry, rang several minutes before eight o'clock. He
was sitting at the right side of the minister. After speaking on the
phone, Sinirlioglu whispered something in Davutoglu's ear. Davutoglu
said something like: "No way! They should do it the way we agreed."
Sinirlioglu got up from the table, moved away, and spoke on the
phone. Then he returned to the table. At around a quarter or twenty
past eight Sinirlioglu's telephone rang again. The under secretary
listened, he said "all right," later he whispered something in
Davutoglu's ear again. Davutoglu and Sinirlioglu got up from the table
in spite of the fact that they had not finished eating. Davutoglu
said: "We have to go to the embassy. We will issue a statement on
board the plane.'

As the journalists drove towards the airport, Foreign Minister
Spokesman Burak Ozugergin issued the statement: Turkey and Armenia,
with the assistance of Switzerland, have initialed a protocol with the
aim of establishing diplomatic ties and forming commissions for the
normalization of the ties. At the end of six weeks, the protocol will
be submitted to the approval of the parliaments of the two countries.

Apparently the foreign minister had gone to the Turkish Embassy in
Damascus with the aim of calling and briefing Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan. It was understood on board the plane that the statement
should have been issued at 1700. Foreign Minister Davutoglu had held
countless phone conversations with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline
Calmy Rey - phone conversations that had been cut off every time
Davutoglu had passed through the labyrinths with the cement walls for
going to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Armenia had asked for changing
one word in the protocol at the last minute. Turkey in turn had
insisted via Switzerland on remaining loyal to the text of the
agreement and therefore there had been a delay.

Nonetheless this was not the only delay. The developments that had
occurred behind the scenes in association with the announcement of the
protocol showed this.

For example the protocol whose details were announced yesterday was
not actually initialed on 31 August when the statement was
issued. Even on 22 April, when it was announced that Turkey and
Armenia, with the assistance of Switzerland, had begun to work on
protocols for the normalization of the relations, the work had not
been completed. Swiss Secretary of State Michael Ambihl had conducted
shuttle diplomacy between Ankara and Yerevan on 1-3 April (in other
words prior to the visit that US President Barack Obama had conducted
to Turkey on 4-6 April) and he had enabled the initialization of the
protocol about which you will read on our newspaper today. CHP's
[Republican People's Party's] Yilmaz announced this date as 2 April on
Kanal-D yesterday evening. Despite Armenia's strong opposition Turkey
had insisted on announcing that the talks had begun (the announcement
had not said the talks had not been finalized) on 22 April (in other
words on the eve of 24
April which is of critical importance in terms of the US
Congress). Given that the protocol had been ready for five months,
what were the items that had been negotiated for the past five months?

The information that we received from the behind the scenes shows that
Turkish and Armenian diplomats have been holding talks on how to write
the text of the announcement of the protocol, which Davutoglu approved
during the fast-breaking dinner in Damascus.

It is understood that the talks were very tough. It is also understood
that the strong reaction that the 22 April announcement had causes not
only in Turkey and Armenia, but also in Azerbaijan had brought these
long-lasting talks on the text of the press statement to the point of
breaking many times.

It is also seen that due to the effect of the debates that had been
held at that time, Ankara did not neglect to brief Baku on each and
every step that it took with Yerevan. The fact that Prime Minister
Erdogan called and briefed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on 28
August, when the text of the announcement had begun to shape and the
fact that on the following day he sent Under Secretary Sinirlioglu as
well as Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Unal Cevikoz to Baku in order
to give Aliyev detailed information are the signs of this.

Therefore the initial statements issued by Baku said: "We are not
uncomfortable with these developments and this is their internal
affair." Neither Aliyev's statement to the effect that "the opening of
the border without the solution of the Karabakh issue runs against our
national interests," nor Davutoglu's statement that "Turkey will not
take any steps that will harm Azerbaijan" contradicted the picture
that had emerged. This is because despite Armenia's insistence (on
ensuring that the protocol would keep the door ajar for keeping
Nagorno-Karabakh outside the process), the protocol does not include
the word "without any preliminary conditions." In other words, the
Karabakh dispute is part of this process. Prime Minister Erdogan's
statement to the effect that "the protocol will not come into effect
without the approval of the National Assembly" also points to the
Karabakh issue.

It is understood that the government will not submit the protocol to
the approval of the National Assembly if no progress is made in the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue (in fact, its approval will be impossible under
those circumstances). Both Azerbaijan and Armenia are aware of this.

Speaking to Clinton the day before yesterday and to Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner,
members of the Minsk Group for Karabakh, yesterday Davutoglu said: "A
step has been taken but if the solution of the Karabakh issue is not
stepped up, this step may not be completed and therefore you should
convince Armenia for a solution." These words prove this framework.

In fact there are no additional items that should be negotiated
between Turkey and Armenia during the next six weeks. Davutoglu said:
"With the announcement the briefing process has also begun. During
this process we will begin to brief the public at home and abroad and
to hold consultations." The same thing is relevant for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. There is a period between the interesting points of this
process [sentence as published]. Even if it is not announced publicly,
the six week period ends on the eve of the soccer game between the
Turkish and Armenian national teams on 14 October. This has brought a
psychological threshold to the protocol. It appears that whether or
not Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will come to Turkey in return to
the visit that President Abdullah Gul had conducted to Armenia on 6
September will no longer have an impact on the process. Nonetheless
there is yet another surprise at the end of the six-week period. A
simple look
at the calendar shows that the six-week period ends on 13
October. This date has been set as a result of serious bargains. The
Armenians reportedly called for ending the process on 5
October. Ankara reportedly understood that Armenia wants to impose
pressure on Azerbaijan during the Aliyev-Sargsyan meeting that will be
held during the Independent States Summit that will be held in
Kishinev, Moldova on 7-9 October. In order to prevent this, Ankara
reportedly requested the process to end after the summit in
question. As a result it was decided that the process will end
somewhere between 10 to 14 October. As for 13 October, this is the
psychological reason behind the Turkish Foreign Ministry's insistence
on issuing the announcement on 31 August.

13 October is the anniversary of the signing of the 1921 Treaty of
Kars that had been signed by the TBMM [Turkish Grand National
Assembly]. The treaty had closed the TBMM armies' eastern front and
had determined the border between the Soviet Union and Armenia. Given
that with the protocol process Yerevan will indirectly recognize
Turkey's borders, it may issue the announcement one or two days
earlier in order to avoid ending the protocol process on a day that is
very meaningful in terms of Turkey's establishment.

[translated from Turkish]
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