Speculation on Armenia-Turkey Border Opening
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE EXERCISE WITH ARMENIA
Hurriyet Daily News
July 14 2010
Turkey
Turkey will reportedly join in for the first-ever humanitarian aid
drill to be held by NATO in Armenia. Turkish officials will be in the
region of Lori Mar, Armenia at the headquarters from Sept. 11 to 17.
Besides, if needed and requested, the Turkish border will be opened
to vehicles during the drill. Diplomatic sources said this would not
be an official opening of the border and that permission would be
given for humanitarian reasons only.
The military exercise has been planned by the Euro-Atlantic Disasters
Response Coordination Center, or EADRCC, under the NATO umbrella, where
all decisions are based on the unanimity of votes. EADRCC organizes
humanitarian assistance practices in member countries of the European
Atlantic Partnership Council, or EAPC, aiming at cooperation between
neighboring non-member countries.
The Council has prepared a scenario of a devastating earthquake
in Armenia for the drill, titled "Armenia-2010." According to the
scenario, the infrastructure of the country will have been ruined
completely in the aftermath of a large earthquake, based on the one
that took place on Dec. 7, 1988, and 20,000 people will have died.
Hazardous industrial waste will have spilled, in the scenario. The
drill includes rescue, evacuation and the fight with hazardous waste.
The goal is to see how NATO and council members coordinate with each
other. (The Metsamour nuclear plant is located in a region close to
the Turkey-Armenia border. It is one of a few that come to mind when
one mentions hazardous spills.)
So far, 19 countries, including Turkey, are to participate in the
practice. A three-member diplomatic and disaster response team from
each country will join the drill. Although Azerbaijan is a council
member, like Armenia, they are not participating. Georgia, on the
other hand, is pitching in.
According to the initial scheme, supply and evacuation operation in
the Lori region in the north is envisaged via Georgia.
Preparations easing the atmosphere
However, Georgian ports cannot meet assistance delivery needs from
the sea. So, Turkey comes into the picture, as several parts of the
drill have been suggested to take place in the country. The Turkish
Foreign Ministry, keeping a possibility in mind, continues to work
to maintain conditions of transition points, highways in the region,
in order not cause any unnecessary political flaws.
As part of the efforts, as the Office of the Governor in Kars was
asked about the condition of highways, public excitement was created,
and it was perceived as a "border opening," because U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton was paying a visit to Baku and Yerevan in those
days, too. Although the Turkish-Armenian border is not open yet due
to serious political problems, Turkey will allow preparations for
such a humanitarian assistance drill when requested.
Preparations are considered to mellow political tension, although
normalization of bilateral relations, including a border opening, is
in deadlock because of the Upper Karabakh talks. Diplomatic sources
are of the opinion that NATO's earthquake exercise will not have any
impact on the Karabakh talks. However, diplomats also stress that
participation of Turkey and Armenia in the drill might help ease
relations between the two countries.
Clinton visited the Azeri capital of Baku in early July to meet
President Ä°lham Aliyev and then passed to the Armenian capital of
Yerevan to meet President Serj Sargsian. She especially requested
progress from leaders in the Karabakh talks. The Minsk Group, under the
co-chairmen of the United States, Russia and France, is in charge of
the Karabakh talks. However, communication is in a dead lock over how
to end Armenian occupation in seven Azeri regions and in Karabakh and
how to manage withdrawal from seven priority counties in particular.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly said the
deadlock in the Karabakh talks is an obstacle preventing normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations, which are outlined the protocols signed
between the two countries in the summer of 2009.
* Mr. Murat Yetkin is the Ankara Representative of the daily Radikal,
in which this piece appeared Wednesday. It was translated into English
by the Daily News staff.
Hurriyet Daily News
July 14 2010
Turkey
Turkey will reportedly join in for the first-ever humanitarian aid
drill to be held by NATO in Armenia. Turkish officials will be in the
region of Lori Mar, Armenia at the headquarters from Sept. 11 to 17.
Besides, if needed and requested, the Turkish border will be opened
to vehicles during the drill. Diplomatic sources said this would not
be an official opening of the border and that permission would be
given for humanitarian reasons only.
The military exercise has been planned by the Euro-Atlantic Disasters
Response Coordination Center, or EADRCC, under the NATO umbrella, where
all decisions are based on the unanimity of votes. EADRCC organizes
humanitarian assistance practices in member countries of the European
Atlantic Partnership Council, or EAPC, aiming at cooperation between
neighboring non-member countries.
The Council has prepared a scenario of a devastating earthquake
in Armenia for the drill, titled "Armenia-2010." According to the
scenario, the infrastructure of the country will have been ruined
completely in the aftermath of a large earthquake, based on the one
that took place on Dec. 7, 1988, and 20,000 people will have died.
Hazardous industrial waste will have spilled, in the scenario. The
drill includes rescue, evacuation and the fight with hazardous waste.
The goal is to see how NATO and council members coordinate with each
other. (The Metsamour nuclear plant is located in a region close to
the Turkey-Armenia border. It is one of a few that come to mind when
one mentions hazardous spills.)
So far, 19 countries, including Turkey, are to participate in the
practice. A three-member diplomatic and disaster response team from
each country will join the drill. Although Azerbaijan is a council
member, like Armenia, they are not participating. Georgia, on the
other hand, is pitching in.
According to the initial scheme, supply and evacuation operation in
the Lori region in the north is envisaged via Georgia.
Preparations easing the atmosphere
However, Georgian ports cannot meet assistance delivery needs from
the sea. So, Turkey comes into the picture, as several parts of the
drill have been suggested to take place in the country. The Turkish
Foreign Ministry, keeping a possibility in mind, continues to work
to maintain conditions of transition points, highways in the region,
in order not cause any unnecessary political flaws.
As part of the efforts, as the Office of the Governor in Kars was
asked about the condition of highways, public excitement was created,
and it was perceived as a "border opening," because U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton was paying a visit to Baku and Yerevan in those
days, too. Although the Turkish-Armenian border is not open yet due
to serious political problems, Turkey will allow preparations for
such a humanitarian assistance drill when requested.
Preparations are considered to mellow political tension, although
normalization of bilateral relations, including a border opening, is
in deadlock because of the Upper Karabakh talks. Diplomatic sources
are of the opinion that NATO's earthquake exercise will not have any
impact on the Karabakh talks. However, diplomats also stress that
participation of Turkey and Armenia in the drill might help ease
relations between the two countries.
Clinton visited the Azeri capital of Baku in early July to meet
President Ä°lham Aliyev and then passed to the Armenian capital of
Yerevan to meet President Serj Sargsian. She especially requested
progress from leaders in the Karabakh talks. The Minsk Group, under the
co-chairmen of the United States, Russia and France, is in charge of
the Karabakh talks. However, communication is in a dead lock over how
to end Armenian occupation in seven Azeri regions and in Karabakh and
how to manage withdrawal from seven priority counties in particular.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly said the
deadlock in the Karabakh talks is an obstacle preventing normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations, which are outlined the protocols signed
between the two countries in the summer of 2009.
* Mr. Murat Yetkin is the Ankara Representative of the daily Radikal,
in which this piece appeared Wednesday. It was translated into English
by the Daily News staff.
RFE/RL Report
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Turkey `May Open Armenia Border For NATO Exercise'
15.07.2010
Emil Danielyan
Turkey is considering temporarily opening its border with Armenia for
a NATO disaster relief exercise due in September, a Turkish diplomat
was reported to say on Thursday. Officials in Yerevan were quick to
dismiss the announcement as a gimmick.
The AFP news agency quoted the unnamed diplomat as saying that Ankara
has decided to participate in the exercise to be held in Armenia's
central Kotayk region by NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response
Coordination Center.
The drills, scheduled for September 11-17, are due to bring together
up to 1,000 participants from two dozen NATO member and partner
states. They will simulate an multi-national response to a powerful
earthquake resulting in a humanitarian and environmental disaster.
`We will be taking part in the exercise,' the Turkish diplomat told
AFP on condition of anonymity.
`We are looking into the possibility on whether the border may be
opened if such a necessity arises. ... There has been no decision
yet,' she said.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 out of solidarity with
Azerbaijan and has since made its reopening conditional on a
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable to its closest
Turkic ally. Ankara has stuck to this linkage even after signing last
October agreements with Yerevan to unconditionally normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry refrained from officially commenting on
the possibility of a temporary border opening. But a diplomatic source
in Yerevan shrugged off the Turkish statement as `a public relations
stunt aimed at burnishing Turkey's image.'
`Armenia has no desire to contribute to that effort,' the source, who
asked not to be identified, told RFE/RL's Armenian service. The
Armenian government might therefore refuse to let any personnel or
vehicles enter the country from Turkey during the exercise, he added.
There has been speculation in both neighboring countries in recent
weeks that Ankara could also temporary open its border checkpoints
Turkey `May Open Armenia Border For NATO Exercise'
15.07.2010
Emil Danielyan
Turkey is considering temporarily opening its border with Armenia for
a NATO disaster relief exercise due in September, a Turkish diplomat
was reported to say on Thursday. Officials in Yerevan were quick to
dismiss the announcement as a gimmick.
The AFP news agency quoted the unnamed diplomat as saying that Ankara
has decided to participate in the exercise to be held in Armenia's
central Kotayk region by NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response
Coordination Center.
The drills, scheduled for September 11-17, are due to bring together
up to 1,000 participants from two dozen NATO member and partner
states. They will simulate an multi-national response to a powerful
earthquake resulting in a humanitarian and environmental disaster.
`We will be taking part in the exercise,' the Turkish diplomat told
AFP on condition of anonymity.
`We are looking into the possibility on whether the border may be
opened if such a necessity arises. ... There has been no decision
yet,' she said.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 out of solidarity with
Azerbaijan and has since made its reopening conditional on a
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable to its closest
Turkic ally. Ankara has stuck to this linkage even after signing last
October agreements with Yerevan to unconditionally normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry refrained from officially commenting on
the possibility of a temporary border opening. But a diplomatic source
in Yerevan shrugged off the Turkish statement as `a public relations
stunt aimed at burnishing Turkey's image.'
`Armenia has no desire to contribute to that effort,' the source, who
asked not to be identified, told RFE/RL's Armenian service. The
Armenian government might therefore refuse to let any personnel or
vehicles enter the country from Turkey during the exercise, he added.
There has been speculation in both neighboring countries in recent
weeks that Ankara could also temporary open its border checkpoints
to Armenians planning to attend the September 19 mass at the 10th
century Armenian Church of Holy Cross located on a lake island in
Turkey's Vanprovince. The Turkish official cited by AFP said `this is
out of the question,' however.
Armenia's leaders have repeatedly blamed the Turks for the effective
collapse of the two Turkish-Armenia `protocols' that envisaged the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two estranged
nations and the opening of their border. President Serzh Sarkisian
suspended in April the process of Armenian parliamentary ratification
of the protocols because of the Turkish preconditions for their
implementation. He indicated that he did not to annul the deal
altogether at the request of foreign powers and the United States in
particular.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed Sarkisian's stance as
`very statesmanlike and very impressive' when she visited Yerevan
earlier this month. Clinton said the onus is on the Turkish government
to revive the normalization process with `the steps that it promised
to take.'
Armenia's leaders have repeatedly blamed the Turks for the effective
collapse of the two Turkish-Armenia `protocols' that envisaged the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two estranged
nations and the opening of their border. President Serzh Sarkisian
suspended in April the process of Armenian parliamentary ratification
of the protocols because of the Turkish preconditions for their
implementation. He indicated that he did not to annul the deal
altogether at the request of foreign powers and the United States in
particular.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed Sarkisian's stance as
`very statesmanlike and very impressive' when she visited Yerevan
earlier this month. Clinton said the onus is on the Turkish government
to revive the normalization process with `the steps that it promised
to take.'
TURKEY MAY TEMPORARILY OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA
news.az
July 14 2010
Azerbaijan
Turkish representatives will take part in military and humanitarian
trainings of NATO t be held in September of this year in Armenia.
According to Turkish Radikal, the names of Turkish servicemen have
already been added to the list of the Alliance soldiers who will come
to Armenia for exercise. In addition, the newspaper says that there is
a plan to open the Armenian-Turkish border for the limitless passage
of servicemen for a time period.
The exercise is expected to involved servicemen of 19 member-states and
partners of NATO. Azerbaijan has rejected participation in trainings.
The decision to hold military exercise in Armenia was adopted by the
NATO member-states including Turkey. The exercise will be held on
11-17 September 2010.
According to diplomatic sources, the temporary opening of the border
will ensure the passage of military column for humanitarian purpose
and this does not mean that the state border between Turkey and Armenia
is declared open. But this will soften ties between Yerevan and Ankara.
The newspaper also states that the return of seven occupied regions
of Azerbaijan is the subject of talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
An agreement on this issue is expected to be reached under assistance
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, the newspaper reads.
news.az
July 14 2010
Azerbaijan
Turkish representatives will take part in military and humanitarian
trainings of NATO t be held in September of this year in Armenia.
According to Turkish Radikal, the names of Turkish servicemen have
already been added to the list of the Alliance soldiers who will come
to Armenia for exercise. In addition, the newspaper says that there is
a plan to open the Armenian-Turkish border for the limitless passage
of servicemen for a time period.
The exercise is expected to involved servicemen of 19 member-states and
partners of NATO. Azerbaijan has rejected participation in trainings.
The decision to hold military exercise in Armenia was adopted by the
NATO member-states including Turkey. The exercise will be held on
11-17 September 2010.
According to diplomatic sources, the temporary opening of the border
will ensure the passage of military column for humanitarian purpose
and this does not mean that the state border between Turkey and Armenia
is declared open. But this will soften ties between Yerevan and Ankara.
The newspaper also states that the return of seven occupied regions
of Azerbaijan is the subject of talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
An agreement on this issue is expected to be reached under assistance
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, the newspaper reads.
TURKEY MUST NOT ISOLATE ARMENIA: PIERRE LELLOUCHE
Tert.am
13:03 15.07.10
Turkey must not isolate Armenia from the outsite world, French
Minister for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche said in an interview
with Euronews.
"I have been asking them to open the land frontier for a long time.
You know that the air frontier is open. And the Turks have everything
to gain by opening the border with Armenia, by not cutting this country
off. So I hope that Turkey will do this, but of course it's difficult,
when many refugees remain in Azerbaijan, and they have religious and
ethnic affinities with them."
"And we encourage the press, and local politicians - on one hand
the Turkish side and on the other the Armenian side. We very much
supported President Gul's football diplomacy with Armenia.
Tert.am
13:03 15.07.10
Turkey must not isolate Armenia from the outsite world, French
Minister for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche said in an interview
with Euronews.
"I have been asking them to open the land frontier for a long time.
You know that the air frontier is open. And the Turks have everything
to gain by opening the border with Armenia, by not cutting this country
off. So I hope that Turkey will do this, but of course it's difficult,
when many refugees remain in Azerbaijan, and they have religious and
ethnic affinities with them."
"And we encourage the press, and local politicians - on one hand
the Turkish side and on the other the Armenian side. We very much
supported President Gul's football diplomacy with Armenia.
[he's forgotten who inititated this] We saw, there was an agreement.
Then, sadly, the agreement was not ratified.We very much want these countries to reach a solution through
negotiation. It's the same for Azerbaijan, which has a real economic
potential. They must admit there are refugees, and find solutions,"
said he.
Asked whether France, Russia and the US could resolve the Nagornoa
Karabakh issue which has been stalled for years, Lellouche said:
"Well it's mainly stalled by internal politics."
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