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Armenian-Turkish protocols not to be ratified soon: experts

Politics Materials 12 November 2009 16:11 (UTC +04:00)
Ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols will be delayed for a long time, Azerbaijani political scientists believe. They note that it is a long and complicated process and Azerbaijan's position is important.
Armenian-Turkish protocols not to be ratified soon: experts

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 12 / Trend U.Sadikhova /

Ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols will be delayed for a long time, Azerbaijani political scientists believe. They note that it is a long and complicated process and Azerbaijan's position is important. 

According to foreign and local experts, unlike its neighbors, Turkey does not act emotionally and determine its foreign policy in the Caucasus and Middle East in a volatile manner.

Meanwhile, independent Azerbaijani expert Rasim Agayev said "signing the Armenian-Turkish protocols and making steps to improve relations with Armenia is a tremendous victory for Turkish diplomacy, but not without considering Azerbaijan's policies."

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10. 

Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland reached an agreement to launch "domestic political consultations" Aug. 31 to sign the "Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations," the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported.

According to Agayev, Turkey will not take emotional steps in its foreign policy.

The experts agree upon that it is wrong to negatively assess Ankara's actions.

"Because Turkey builds its foreign policy based on changes in the region and strengthening the Islamic factor," Agayev said.

"Turkey's rapprochement with Iran and Syria and improving relations with Russia are a signal to the West that Ankara could become a serious force in the Middle East and strengthen its position in the region," political scientist Fikret Sadikhov said. "Given Ankara's possible turning into an influential regional player, Turkey's role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict increases.''

Sadikhov expressed doubt that the protocols will be ratified soon. He believes the Turkish government is well aware of this fact.

"This process [establishment of the Turkey-Armenia relations] may positively impact the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Documents may be ratified, but with amendments that will take much time," he added.

Turkey's position in the Caucasus after the August 2008 only intensified as Ankara is a vital ally for regional countries, independent Azerbaijani political scientist Zardusht Alizadeh said.

Regarding Ankara's convergence with Iran and Syria, he said Turkey wants to show the West that it can consolidate its position in the Islamic world based on the sentiments of Muslim society.

According to political scientist Rashad Rzaguliyev, Ankara thought out and analyzed its relations with Syria and Iran in the context of the overall Western policy.

"The West wants to build a lighthouse in the Islamic world, which can be oriented as a model of a secular Islamic society," he said.

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