Azerbaijani MP: Armenia missed historical chance

How do you assess the outcome of the Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting? Can it be considered success in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution?

This meeting was at the center of attention not only of societies of the two countries, but also around the world. The question of opening borders between Turkey and Armenia has long been a matter of debates of heads of state and media. So, this meeting will reveal news details in this matter.

During the Washington talks, Turkey has reiterated its principled position on linkage between opening borders with Armenia and liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Today, most of all, Armenia needs the borders opening. It has ended up in isolation as a result of territorial claims to neighboring states. It has closed borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey and experienced certain problems with Georgia. In the meantime, open borders with Iran do not give it direct access to Europe due to geopolitical situation of Iran.

Armenia is a captive of its ideological and nationalistic prejudices. Today Armenia’s politicy is identified with the policy once pursued by the communist leaders of the Soviet Union where ideology was superior to public or economic interests.

Therefore, I think, opening of Turkey's borders with Armenia will be postponed in view of Armenia's refusal to withdarw from the Azerbaijani territories and failure to respect international legal norms.

However, during the meeting that lasted an hour and a half, Erdogan raised the issue of “genocide” recognition promoted by Armenia through a number of parliaments of the world.

Armenia is more concerned with its ideological issues than a normal nation-building. At that meeting, no agreement ad no concrete results were reached, except that the foreign ministers of both countries will periodically communicate.

But there is a result - Turkey remains committed to its previous statements. Turkey demands respect for its territorial integrity and solving historical issues by scientists, but not politicians.

Another result is that the world once again witnessed Armenia’s uncivil policy both internal and external areans.

According to Turkish Foreign Minister, Karabakh was one of the key issues debated during the Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting. In your opinion, may this meeting influence settlement of the conflict?

I think that this was quite expected given Turkey’s principled position in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Of course, position of brotherly Turkey will further influence the solution to this problem.

What is your assessment of the Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting in the context of Armenian-Turkish relations? In your view, what further steps will Armenia take to normalize relations with Turkey?

This was second such meeting in the last two years. The first meeting between Erdogan and Sargsyan took place in 2008. I think that Armenia has an opportunity to improve relations with its powerful neighbor, and show commitment to international legal norms and to show that it is seriously engaged in building its statehood seriously.

Unfortunately, Armenia missed its historical chance this time, too.

Following the meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Serzh Sargyan also met with the Armenian Diaspora in the United States...

I would even say that Armenia rather reported to the Armenian Diaspora. Everyone knows that the Armenian leadership is accountable to the Armenian Diaspora, rather than to its people.

With regard to his statements, today the world does not act based on statements or prejudice of any nationalist circles. There are world standards, and they must be respected. If Armenia demands Turkey to recognize what it did not commit, this is not a normal political action.

In your opinion, what conclusions Armenia should draw from the Sargsyan-Obama and Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting?

I guess Armenia has once again met with Turkey’s serious stance. Armenia must draw a conclusion if it wants to have strong and developing state. Armenia must respect its neighbors, give up territorial claims to them and do what its people, but not Armenian Diaspora, expects it to do. If Armenia fails to draw conclusions, it will face more serious problems.


/Day.Az/