InternationalTurkey sends protocols to parliament
Published: Friday October 23, 2009
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey. Photolure.
Yerevan - The Turkish government on October 21 submitted the protocols on the normalization of relations with Armenia, signed in Zurich on October 10, to the Grand National Assembly for ratification. The protocols go first to the Foreign Affairs Commission of the parliament.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu presented the protocols to the parliament, in which the AK (Justice and Development) Party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a majority. "Turkey cannot act efficiently because of the current status quo," he said, according to the Anatolia news agency. "Therefore, we must change it."
"We have three important targets to this end. First of all, we need to establish good neighborly relations with Armenia. Secondly, we want to set up a channel of healthy communication between Turkish and Armenian peoples. And thirdly, we aim at accelerating the process to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia."
The speech was interrupted repeatedly by opposition lawmakers, who have criticized the terms on which the government has agreed in principle to normalize relations with its eastern neighbor. Turkey closed the border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan, which was being defeated by Armenian forces in its effort to thwart the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkish critics of the protocols want the border to remain closed until the Karabakh conflict is resolved to Azerbaijan's satisfaction. The protocols make no reference to Karabakh.
"We always feel the problems of our Azeri brothers in our heart," Mr. Davutoglu said, according to The Associated Press. "The territorial unity of Azerbaijan is Turkey's unity."
Turkey's envoy in Baku went farther, affirming Prime Minister Erdogan's promise that the border would remain closed until the Karabakh conflict is resolved.
"The Turkish-Armenian border was closed because of Nagorno-Karabakh," said Ambassador Hulusi Kilic on October 21, according to the Trend news agency, "Until that problem is solved, the border's opening will not be possible."
Trend quotes him as continuing, "I decisively declare that the opinion of the Turkish people will be reflected in the parliament's decision and that the signed protocols will not be ratified."
The protocols were sent to parliament after Turkey's National Security Council discussed them on October 20. The foreign minister briefed members of the body, which include top officials and military brass. The council did not call for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict before ratification; on the contrary, it said normalization of relations with Armenia would help facilitate the resolution of the conflict.
President Abdullah Gül, meanwhile, spoke to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan by telephone. According to Anatolia, the conversation "eliminated misunderstandings resulting from some emotional reactions which emerged during a tough period."
Armenian officials have suggested that the Armenian parliament would take up the matter of ratification only after the Turkish parliament has acted. Allies of President Serge Sargsyan, who has argued strongly in favor of the protocols, hold a firm majority in Armenia's National Assembly.
