Opposition decries gov’t’s submissive foreign policies
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Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 15, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, and the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, expressed strong criticism at the prospect of the Turkish-Armenian border being reopened during their parties group meetings in Parliament yesterday.
The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, made some promises behind the curtains, said CHP leader Deniz Baykal.
"Where are the foreign minister, his ministry and the president who went to Armenia to watch a football match? What commitments were made? Someone should come up and explain," said Baykal, addressing his deputies.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during that country’s conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijani officials as well as the public have expressed serious concerns over the possibility of the Turkish-Armenian border being opened, while 20 percent of their territory is still under occupation.
Solidarity
In protest of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey legitimately closed its border, said Baykal. "They tell us to open the border. If we open the border, the occupation will gain legitimacy. How can those ruling Turkey accept that?" he asked. Baykal highlighted that Turkey must be in solidarity with Azerbaijan, implying that energy cooperation would be in jeopardy if the border with Armenia opened.
"The government must act seriously and tell it clearly if it made a promise [to open the border]. The atmosphere of doubt should be cleared. Will the border be opened or not, or will it open under what conditions? A submissive approach doesn’t match Turkey," said the CHP leader.
Baykal also criticized some countries for imposing Turkey to recognize the alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of Armenians during World War I. "This accusation is hostile," said Baykal. "Any attempts to embargo the politics of a country 100 years later are not convincing É Turkey should not and will not make the genocide accusation a complex," he said.
The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, or TEPAV, an independent think tank, organized a roundtable meeting on Turkey's Caucasus policy and the recent rapprochement in Turkish-Armenian relations. One of the guest speakers, Onur Öymen of the CHP, said Turkey closed its border with Armenia not to punish Yerevan but to protest the occupation of 20 percent of the Azeri territory by Armenian forces. He said the closed border was a warning to Armenia to end the occupation.
"Nobody will have the power to open the border between Turkey and Armenia unless allegations based on the genocide lie are given up, the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region is returned to Azerbaijan and territorial claims over Turkey are not quitted," said Bahçeli. "I am warning the government: Our approach toward Armenia is as disappointing, humiliating as that with the Greek Cypriots and the tribal leaders in Iraq."
The MHP leader claimed the process of normalization with Armenia that began with the president’s visit to Yerevan in September reached a level of making unilateral concessions.
President Abdullah Gül said comprehensive work was under way to normalize ties with Armenia. "What Turkey wants to do is clear. Our desire is stability in the Caucasus," Gül told reporters before departing for Bahrain.
"Where are the foreign minister, his ministry and the president who went to Armenia to watch a football match? What commitments were made? Someone should come up and explain," said Baykal, addressing his deputies.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during that country’s conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijani officials as well as the public have expressed serious concerns over the possibility of the Turkish-Armenian border being opened, while 20 percent of their territory is still under occupation.
Solidarity
In protest of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey legitimately closed its border, said Baykal. "They tell us to open the border. If we open the border, the occupation will gain legitimacy. How can those ruling Turkey accept that?" he asked. Baykal highlighted that Turkey must be in solidarity with Azerbaijan, implying that energy cooperation would be in jeopardy if the border with Armenia opened.
"The government must act seriously and tell it clearly if it made a promise [to open the border]. The atmosphere of doubt should be cleared. Will the border be opened or not, or will it open under what conditions? A submissive approach doesn’t match Turkey," said the CHP leader.
Baykal also criticized some countries for imposing Turkey to recognize the alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of Armenians during World War I. "This accusation is hostile," said Baykal. "Any attempts to embargo the politics of a country 100 years later are not convincing É Turkey should not and will not make the genocide accusation a complex," he said.
The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, or TEPAV, an independent think tank, organized a roundtable meeting on Turkey's Caucasus policy and the recent rapprochement in Turkish-Armenian relations. One of the guest speakers, Onur Öymen of the CHP, said Turkey closed its border with Armenia not to punish Yerevan but to protest the occupation of 20 percent of the Azeri territory by Armenian forces. He said the closed border was a warning to Armenia to end the occupation.
"Nobody will have the power to open the border between Turkey and Armenia unless allegations based on the genocide lie are given up, the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region is returned to Azerbaijan and territorial claims over Turkey are not quitted," said Bahçeli. "I am warning the government: Our approach toward Armenia is as disappointing, humiliating as that with the Greek Cypriots and the tribal leaders in Iraq."
The MHP leader claimed the process of normalization with Armenia that began with the president’s visit to Yerevan in September reached a level of making unilateral concessions.
President Abdullah Gül said comprehensive work was under way to normalize ties with Armenia. "What Turkey wants to do is clear. Our desire is stability in the Caucasus," Gül told reporters before departing for Bahrain.