Ukrainian analyst: Compromise in a sensitive matter like so-called "Armenian genocide" is unacceptable for Turkey

Turkey recalled its ambassador to the United States as soon as the U.S. Congress committee adopted a resolution recognizing the so-called “Armenian genocide.” However, after relatively short time, Turkish ambassador returned to the U.S. and Turkish PM Erdogan will soon trip to Washington to attend the nuclear safety summit. What is your assessment of the current situation? Does it mean that the crisis in the Turkey-U.S. relations is in the past?

Let's start with the fact that Turkey is now playing the role of strategically very important player, claiming to be a regional leader. Therefore, all its policies are aimed at demonstrating this leadership and the ability to make significant, independent decisions concerning the situation in the region. This applies, for example, Turkey's position on the Iranian issue. In the meantime, Turkey also holds political debates with other strategically important players in the region. The United States is one of these players.

Disputed issues may emerge during these consultations just like the "Armenian genocide." It is unacceptable for Turkey, which claims to regional leadership, to make a compromise in so important and sensitive issue. The United States leadership also understands this and therefore it is not going to deteriorate relations with Turkey, its strategic partner.

In general, both sides are aware of importance of Turkish-American cooperation and willingness to resolve the crisis in their relationship, caused by the resolution adopted by the  U.S. Congress Committee on Foreign Relations.

In your opinion, in what way unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may hinder Turkey’s claims to regional leadership?

Precisely Turkey's claims to regional leadership explain its position on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As is known, the Turkish-Armenian border was closed due to Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Therefore, it is logical to expect that the Turkish-Armenian border may open once the Azerbaijan’s territories are liberated. Displaying weakness in this matter and ignoring Azerbaijan’s interests may deprive Turkey of its claims to geo-political leadership in the region.

In your opinion, what is the architecture of the process of resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

In my opinion, the architecture of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution is that there is some common understanding and consent of the United States, Turkey and Yerevan and Baku to the fact that Nagorno Karabakh is de jure a part of Azerbaijan but may have a very broad autonomous status.

May Armenia accept such resolution of the conflict?

I do not think that the leading geopolitical players in the region are set to repartition of territories. It is very risky. The main point is not the position of Armenia or Azerbaijan, but understanding of key regional players of importance of geopolitical stability in the region which cannot be ensured without resolution to Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This factor, in my opinion, is the most important in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

And when may the scenario of resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict you said above happen?

Of course, it is extremely difficult to give an exact answer to this question. But, in my opinion, we can expect the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be settled in the coming years.


/Day.Az/