Armenia resentful one year after signing accord with Turkey

Armenia resentful one year after signing accord with Turkey

Sunday, October 10, 2010

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU

YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News

Armenian Foreign Ministry officials have blamed Turkey for failing to bring into effect protocols that were signed a year ago, as the Turkish-Armenian border is still closed and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue remains a source of friction.

“A political battle continues between Turkey and Armenia. The U.S., the European Union and Russia made promises to Armenia, but betrayed us. The protocols are a political fiasco from the Armenian viewpoint,” Levon Zurabian, a key figure of the Armenian National Congress, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a recent interview.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry says it holds Turkey responsible for the protocols having not yet come into force while Armenia remains ready for dialogue without precondition. Armenian President Serge Sarkisian also announced in April a unilateral freeze of the protocols because Turkey had not delivered what it promised.

Excitement for reconciliation between the countries peaked a year ago when Turkey and Armenia signed historic protocols to begin working toward opening the border and re-establishing official relations. The signing ceremony, however, was tense and required international mediators to broker a last-minute deal.

Zurabian told the Daily News in a recent interview that the political battle continues between Turkey and Armenia, adding that the protocols add tension to bilateral relations instead of easing them. “Both sides accuse each other of not actualizing the protocols. Both sides are trying to put the blame on each other.”

Zurabian said the Sarkisian government had made a big mistake by signing onto the road map. “Sarkisian thought the U.S., the EU and Russia would pressure Turkey to enforce the protocols. Armenia was given promises. We warned the Sarkisian government that due to Turkey’s strategic importance no country would take any risk for Armenia. But they did not listen.”

Zurabian criticized the Sarkisian administration, the U.S., the EU and Russia, saying Armenia was deceived. “Armenia made concessions on the protocols. Turkey wanted to prevent the U.S. congress from recognizing the Armenian genocide and they’ve managed it through the protocols. The protocols are a political fiasco from Armenia’s viewpoint.”

‘There could’ve been no Karabakh issue’

Turkey unilaterally closed the Turkish-Armenian borders in 1993 as a response to the Nagarno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and bilateral relations nearly froze.

Although not included in the protocols, Turkey ties the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the re-opening of the borders. Western officials continue shuttle diplomacy between Armenia and Azerbaijan to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, but so far no progress has been made.

While encounters take place sometimes on both sides, Zubarian claimed that if Turkey had considered the offers made by the Levon Der Bedrosian government in the 1990s there might be no Karabakh question today. “Der Bedrosian had asked for the launch of bilateral relations unconditionally. Turkey, however, rejected the olive branch. If steps had been taken in those days, we wouldn’t be in today’s situation and would have overcome the crisis with Azerbaijan,” he said.

‘Laçin is of political importance’

Armenian political experts are mostly of the opinion the protocols cannot be brought into effect, Zubarian said, adding that he believed Turkey would never ignore the interests of Azerbaijan.

“Turkey will not re-open borders without reaching a final solution in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said. “The Karabakh administration and Azerbaijan should immediately start direct dialogue. This is the only solution. Otherwise, it is impossible to solve the problem.”

Zurabian said handing over the Laçin Corridor to Azerbaijan would be impossible. “Surrendering Laçin will create a strategic risk not only for Nagorno-Karabakh, but also for Armenia. Such a risk cannot be taken.”