New warning on Karabakh negotiations

"We consider [the Turkey-Armenia talks and Nagorno-Karabakh process] as parallel lines, and according to Euclidian geometry, parallel lines never cross. But, there are interactions. The historic reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia could affect the environment positively but not Nagorno-Karabakh talks," Bernard Fassier said Monday at a luncheon with a limited group of journalists.

Fassier, on the eve of a crucial meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders early next month in St. Petersburg, visited Ankara as a last stop of a regional tour that included Yerevan and Baku. He held meetings at the Foreign Ministry just a week after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey would not open its border with Armenia unless Yerevan ends its occupation on Azerbaijani territory.

In contradiction to Fassier’s description of "parallel lines," Ankara considers only one track is able to achieve a comprehensive settlement in the region. "If by mistake an unfortunate mix of these talks might only make things more difficult," Fassier said. According to Turkish sources, Fassier asked Turkey not to link these two issues, especially at a time when the international community has increased its pressure on the parties to compromise for a solution.

Turkey and Armenia announced a road map on April 22 that would bring about the unconditional normalization of ties. But as a result of Azerbaijan’s overreaction to the process, Ankara had to declare that it is ready to open the border with Armenia in return for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh. There were unconfirmed reports that Armenia could withdraw from five regions out of seven surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

But for Fassier, the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the regions should not be expected in the short-term as "there has to be a full settlement allowing the changing of all parameters comprehensively."

"We are not trying to reach for the moon, but to solve what is possible to solve today," he said, adding that the Minsk Group has so far proposed to establish an interim situation that would not constitute casus belli (justification for acts of war) for any of the countries. The further stages and the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh would be reasonably settled afterward.

Optimistic

When asked whether the deployment of an international force was part of discussion, he said it was not today’s issue but would be discussed when considering the need for security for those who return to their own regions.

The next meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in St. Petersburg is important to see to what extent they are ready to come up with an agreement over an interim situation. "We have a road map. It has been there since 2007. I am optimistic because there is a sort astral conjuncture that brought all relevant factors on the same line," Fassier said. "I am hopeful. The tunnel is long but there is light at the end of the tunnel."