Oktay Eksi:Turkey, Armenia talks must be without pre-condition

Though some basic information is missing in the news; for example, the aim and the scope of the negotiations are not known.

But, generally it can be estimated that the issues will aim at boosting ties between the two countries. The subject of any talks is likely to focus on opening the border closed by Turkey for 14 years, lifting the economic embargo implemented by Turkey, kicking off the diplomatic relations between two countries and, legalizing the nearly 60,000 Armenian citizens that the Turkish government has been tolerant to allow to live in Turkey illegally until now.

In fact, it is not secret that Armenia desires to "normalize" relations and that the United States suggests -even pressures- Turkey on this issue.

The possibility of stepping up these moves had increased after the election of Serge Sargsyan as Armenian president in February 2008. It was expected that this new president would have more pigeon politics compared to the former president, Robert Kocharian, who was the spokesman for the hawkish side of Armenian politics.

Though it is also known that Sargsyan, who was serving as prime minister during Kocharian’s presidency, had not shown restraint when speaking about Turkey in an interview he gave in the United States on Oct 27, 2007. For example, he made the following remark in the interview:

"It can not be expected for us to live in peace as long as our neighboring country stands beside us not approving genocide. They (Turks) are not only denying the genocide, but the also keep the Armenian border closed. This is why we have a neighbor that does not accept civilized and normal relations. We have not chosen the land we are living on willingly. We are aware that we had lived there (in Turkey) for thousands years. And we are also aware of the necessity of living there for thousands of years to come. But, our neighbors should also understand this... The genocide took place in West Armenia, which is now part of Turkish territory... Those people were forced to leave their land due to genocide."

You would not make a major issue out of these statements were the only subject of the affair. But, in the "Independency Declaration" dated Aug 23, 1990, Armenia says, "The Armenian Republic, with the approval of the international community, takes as its mission the genocide carried out in Turkey during the time of the Ottoman Empire and in West Armenia."

We are talking about a neighboring country that has on its national flag, the image of Turkey's Mount Ararat, in other words, a country that is obviously eyeing lands belonging to the Turkish Republic.

It is also the same neighbor that on the one hand, refuses to officially say it accepts the accord determining the borders between Turkey and Armenia, while on the other, implies that, "It puts no pre-conditions on the table for talks to form normal and civilized relations with Turkey."

Let’s wait and see, how these bilateral and secret negotiations will conclude.