HURRIYET- Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on Turkish-Armenian relations. A summary of her column is as follows:
There is a newspaper called Agos published for citizens of Armenian descent living in Istanbul. An important article by the newspaper’s editor-in-chief Hrant Dink, was published on June 21. In his article, ‘Armenia in a Squeeze’ Dink said, ‘Armenian foreign policy, which over the last 10 years was based on the disputes between the US and Russia, and trying to carve a place between the balances of interest is now nearing collapse as there is no US-Russian tension or a conflict of powers in sight.’ Following this analysis, Dink said that Armenia used to index its foreign policy on Russia’s power in the region and so had grown troubled and confused in determining a new stance to pursue. In fact, Russia’s rapprochement with NATO, signing a strategic agreement with the US and deciding to cooperate in the energy field instead of competing has led to radical changes in the Caucasus. Armenian Foreign Minister Minister Vartan Oskanyan was in Istanbul on the occasion of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)’s 10th anniversary meeting. Oskanyan met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. This was the third meeting of the foreign ministers. The first meeting took place during the Davos meetings in New York, and the second was held in Rejkjavik, Iceland. Both ministers are evaluating these meetings cautiously, but it is certain that a rapprochement process has begun. The changing balances in the region following the Sept. 11 attacks and Washington’s influence play an important role in this process. Oskanyan spoke at a panel meeting jointly organized by the TESEV and AVRASYA associations. His statement was an interesting to listen. He said that Turkey should not exclude Armenia as a regional power. It wasn’t possible for Armenia to harm Turkey anyway, as it didn’t have the power to do so. Oskanyan said, ‘We are reaching out hand to Turkey, take it.’ He added that they wanted to enter into a dialogue with Turkey wth no preconditions and stressed that problems could be solved more easily in a climate of dialogue and mutual confidence. Four months ago, Oskanyan said in the Armenian Parliament that relations with Turkey must be improved and called on the Parliament to launch new initiatives. However, it is not that easy. What would they do regarding the diaspora Armenians? The diaspora did not allow anyone to speak of an unconditional agreement or a dialogue for that matter. Everyone knows what happened to Ter Pertrosyan. His answer was, ‘If a dialogue between Turkey and Armenia begins, then we can say to those in the diaspora to mind their own business and not to disrupt our relations, and silence them.’ Is it not worth thinking on the issue?
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION