Turkish MP: Turkey will decide future of protocols only after Armenia fulfills Turkey’s requirements

What do you expect from the meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Barack Obama to take place in early December?  

This will be a meeting between president of a world super power with prime minister of a regional super power. The meeting will focus on ongoing processes in the world and region and a role Turkey has in these processes.  

Our region is the most restless and hot spot in the world. Turkey is not only a geographical but also political, cultural and military bridge between East and West. The United States is very well aware of Turkey’s importance. The U.S. leadership understands that it would be too difficult to solve regional problems without Turkey’s involvement. Washington was once more convinced of Turkey’s importance during the Iraqi process. The parties are most likely to discuss all issues related to our region at the coming meeting.

What concrete outcome discussions over the Turkey-Armenia relations and Karabakh conflict may have?

Resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and issues related to Armenia are a top priority for Turkey. These issues have recently begun to acquire a serious shape. Obama's visit to Turkey helped these processes to get out of the stagnation. We will certainly learn about further development of these processes after the meeting between Erdogan and Obama.

It is easy to predict what will Turkish prime minister tell to Obama. Erdogan has previously stated that establishing relations between Turkey and Armenia depends on the Karabakh problem. Our government does not separate these two questions from each other. The prime minister will probably tell Obama once again that peace in the region primarily depends on resolution of the Karabakh problem and Armenia’s current position will make no contribution to the conflict’s fair solution.

The media reports that the U.S. puts pressure on Turkey to ratify the Turkish-Armenian protocols. The Armenian press claims that Obama will do the same during his meeting with Erdogan…

No one can order the Turkish parliament to ratify the protocols. Turkey is a strong regional power. We will not allow anyone to dictate terms to us. Any pressure on Turkey is doomed to failure. Turkish parliament will do nothing contrary to interests of the Turkish people under pressure. On my own behalf I can say that the protocols are not expected to be discussed or ratified today. I do not believe these protocols will be ratified until Armenia fulfills Turkey’s requirements.

Above all, we require liberation of Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. We will decide future of these protocols only after Armenians fulfills this requirement. Turkey does not form its policy on basis of outside orders. We pursue our own policy that we deem to be expedient. Under this policy, we can not make friends with enemy of our brother. We can not establish good neighborly relations with a neighbor while it is at a war with our brother.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan says that establishment of relations with Turkey will not force Armenia to abandon its so-called "genocide" claims. Armenians argue that Barack Obama will officially recognize the "Armenian genocide" on April 24.  Do you think Turkish prime minister will discuss this issue with the U.S. president?

The Republic of Turkey has committed no "genocide" against anyone and is not obliged to justify itself before Armenians’ false accusations. Armenians blackmail Turkey by their "genocide” claims. We openly declare that we can not be friends of those who call us murderers and accuse us of mass killings. So, the demand of the U.S., or someone else do not change anything.

Following a thaw in Turkish-Armenian relations, Armenia toughened its stance in the negotiations on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ...

Turkish officials have made it clear for Armenia that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are not of neighborly, but brotherly nature. Karabakh problem is a problem not only of Azerbaijan but also that of Turkey. Enemies of Azerbaijan are also enemies of Turkey. As in other matters, we will hold the same position with Azerbaijan in the Karabakh issue, too. We will do nothing contrary to Azerbaijan’s interests.

In fact, Armenia is jealous of unlimited brotherhood between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia should also know that the Karabakh conflict paralyzes not only Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also the entire region. It impedes development and cooperation in the region. We wanted to show the world that once Armenia withdraws from occupied Azerbaijani territories, we are even ready to help it to get out of the crisis.

The Turkish government is consulting with Washington on the Armenian issue. This creates impression that Russia is not involved in the ongoing processes ...

In fact, the Armenian question was put into agenda thanks to the U.S. and the EU rather than Turkey. As for Russia, it is impossible to underestimate its regional significance. It is impossible to establish peace in the Caucasus without Russia’s approval. But Russia can not ignore Turkey’s role in the region. Moscow is well aware that Turkey and Azerbaijan play an important role in energy security in the region. Energy policies of these countries aim at promoting regional peace and creating an atmosphere of cooperation and regional development.

We want to explain to Armenia that we can forgive its mistakes and cooperate with it. It needs only to abandon unfounded claims and agree to cooperate.

On the other hand, Russia is one of he Turkey’s biggest trade partners. This partnership impacted also energy security in recent years. Things constantly change in the world and in Turkey, in particular. My countryman Mevlana Rumi has a good idea which says that it is impossible to live life of yesterday. This day is always different from yesterday. We did not estimate properly importance of relations with Russia yesterday. Much have changed today. We believe that Turkey and Russia may establish normal, even friendly relations. Azerbaijan has a certain role in establishing normal relations between Russia and Turkey.


Day.Az