05/05/2015 13:08
Turkey must revise strategy to initiate rapprochement with Armenia – Milliyet
The critical date was overcome this year yet another time, the Turkish Milliyet says in an article commenting on the April 24 events marking the Armenian Genocide centennial.
The author, Sami Kohen, describes the subsequent developments as manifestations of aggression against Turkey, citing particularly Pope Francis’s statement declaring the mass atrocities as the 20th anniversary’s first genocide and the visits by influential state leaders (such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia) to Armenia. He also refers to the European Parliament’s resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
He stresses the need of revising Turkey’s strategy in initiating a reconciliation with Armenia.
“To get rid of the annually repeated April 24 drama it is necessary to initiate a newer and more comprehensive strategy.
“Turkey’s policies and positions have not so far yielded any result; on the contrary, they brought to the surface the deteriorated relations with Turkey’s enighbors,” he says, highlighting the need of active efforts by Ankara.
Describing the 2009 Zurich protocols on the normalization of ties and opening of the interstate border between Armenia and Turkey as a “road map”, Kohen further notes that they also outlined future steps towards initiating joint work over the Genocide issue.
“Is Turkey’s diplomacy now unable to undertake steps towards normalizing relations with Yerevan? The opening of the border and embassies may change a lot. It’s not only for the two countries but also, at the same time, for Azerbaijan.
“Not initiating relations with Armenia for fear of offending Baku, Turkey will offer no advantage to the [solution of the Nagorno-]Karabakh problem. For so many years, the OSCE Minsk Group has not managed to get the deal done. But in case Ankara maintains relations with Yerevan, it may thus play role in Baku’s favor.
“The Azerbaijanis’ sensitivity to this issue is known. But Turkey has to undertake steps to persuade its neighbor and hence – succeed. Its outcome will be in the interests of all,” writes the journalist.