TURKEY PROMOTES STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS
Mevlut Katik 7/18/05
Mevlut Katik is a London-based journalist and analyst. He is a former BBC correspondent and also worked for The Economist group.
Turkey is engaged in a major diplomatic push to promote stability in the Caucasus. Ankara’s initiatives -- involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia -- could play an important role in breaking the long-standing stalemate in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.
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[...] On July 12, the Turkish television channel CNNTurk revealed that Turkish and Armenian diplomats had engaged in secret talks in an undisclosed European city, during which Ankara reportedly extended proposals aimed at easing mutual animosity. Turkish and Armenian officials have confirmed that a dialogue is ongoing, but have remained tight-lipped about specifics. Turkish media sources have said another round of discussions could occur soon, with Armenia responding to the Turkish proposals.
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Ankara has a considerable interest in normalizing its relations with Armenia, as Turkey’s dwindling chances of gaining entry into the European Union over the near- to mid-term depend partly on whether Turkish and Armenian officials can settle their differences. During a mid-June visit to Turkey, Joost Lagendijk, the co-chair of the Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, indicated that Turkey’s chances to overcome growing EU skepticism about Ankara’s accession aspirations could depend on its ability to normalize relations with its neighbors. "Turkey must strengthen its relations with Armenia," the Anatolia news agency quoted Lagendijk as saying.
Turkish leaders have sought to reassure Azerbaijani officials that the special relationship between Ankara and Baku will not be weakened by a potential rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey’s ambassador in Baku, Turan Morali, stressed in a television interview broadcast July 14 on Azerbaijan’s ANS television that there were "no grounds" for concern about the strength of the Ankara-Baku relationship. Morali went on to tout the potential benefits of a Karabakh peace settlement.
"There will be a new environment for joint work in the region if the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is solved," Morali said. "One should lay and reinforce the foundation [for a durable peace].
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Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Mevlut Katik is a London-based journalist and analyst. He is a former BBC correspondent and also worked for The Economist group.
Turkey is engaged in a major diplomatic push to promote stability in the Caucasus. Ankara’s initiatives -- involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia -- could play an important role in breaking the long-standing stalemate in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.
[...]
[...] On July 12, the Turkish television channel CNNTurk revealed that Turkish and Armenian diplomats had engaged in secret talks in an undisclosed European city, during which Ankara reportedly extended proposals aimed at easing mutual animosity. Turkish and Armenian officials have confirmed that a dialogue is ongoing, but have remained tight-lipped about specifics. Turkish media sources have said another round of discussions could occur soon, with Armenia responding to the Turkish proposals.
[...]
Ankara has a considerable interest in normalizing its relations with Armenia, as Turkey’s dwindling chances of gaining entry into the European Union over the near- to mid-term depend partly on whether Turkish and Armenian officials can settle their differences. During a mid-June visit to Turkey, Joost Lagendijk, the co-chair of the Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, indicated that Turkey’s chances to overcome growing EU skepticism about Ankara’s accession aspirations could depend on its ability to normalize relations with its neighbors. "Turkey must strengthen its relations with Armenia," the Anatolia news agency quoted Lagendijk as saying.
Turkish leaders have sought to reassure Azerbaijani officials that the special relationship between Ankara and Baku will not be weakened by a potential rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey’s ambassador in Baku, Turan Morali, stressed in a television interview broadcast July 14 on Azerbaijan’s ANS television that there were "no grounds" for concern about the strength of the Ankara-Baku relationship. Morali went on to tout the potential benefits of a Karabakh peace settlement.
"There will be a new environment for joint work in the region if the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is solved," Morali said. "One should lay and reinforce the foundation [for a durable peace].
[...]
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 8:05 AM
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