Turkey-Armenia deal to benefit Azerbaijan: EU envoy
Turkey-Armenia relations have reached a point beyond
which there may be a breakthrough, the European Union Special
Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, has said,
adding that the agreement recently reached by Ankara and Yerevan
would, in fact, benefit Azerbaijan.
Semneby welcomed what he described as ice-breaking in Turkey-Armenia talks. He told Russia’s Kommersant newspaper that the anticipated opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will be the first step toward overcoming the abnormal situation in the region whereby three of the lengthiest frontiers of the South Caucasus - the ones between Turkey and Armenia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Russia and Georgia - remain shut.
"This current situation is an obstacle to normal development of the region," said Semneby.
After decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments. Moreover, Ankara has ruled out their approval in the Grand National Assembly and the border opening before progress is made in the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict that Azerbaijan, Turkey, ally, faces with Armenia, which has been occupying a part of Azerbaijan’s territory since the early 1990s.
According to Semneby, though a challenging situation has emerged with the approval of the Turkey-Armenia protocols, this would comply with both countries’ interests, as well as those of Azerbaijan.
"I am confident that in the long term, this also meets the interests of Azerbaijan, because it is also interested in the opening of borders in the region," the EU official said.
Semneby noted that the brief war fought by Russia and Georgia in August 2008 has shown that the South Caucasus states are vulnerable, and this vulnerability could be eliminated only by solving the outstanding problems. He also voiced confidence that Armenian leaders are of the same opinion.
"The status quo on Garabagh does not meet Armenia’s interests, and it cannot remain undefined forever," Semneby said.
According to him, mutual confidence should be strengthened in the South Caucasus to surmount the challenges, which, in fact, requires vigorous effort by third parties, such as the EU or Russia.
Semneby also said Russia's recognition of Georgia’s rebel South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions had set forth a precedent complicating settlement of the Garabagh conflict.
"[But] the link between these conflicts should not be embellished. Certainly, we deem Russia's recognizing these territories as problematic and unacceptable, and difficult discussions on the issue, including those with Russia, are still ahead," Semneby said, adding that the EU and Moscow share common priorities in other areas, and differences over Georgia should not pose roadblocks to efforts aiming to resolve other conflicts.*
Semneby welcomed what he described as ice-breaking in Turkey-Armenia talks. He told Russia’s Kommersant newspaper that the anticipated opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will be the first step toward overcoming the abnormal situation in the region whereby three of the lengthiest frontiers of the South Caucasus - the ones between Turkey and Armenia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Russia and Georgia - remain shut.
"This current situation is an obstacle to normal development of the region," said Semneby.
After decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments. Moreover, Ankara has ruled out their approval in the Grand National Assembly and the border opening before progress is made in the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict that Azerbaijan, Turkey, ally, faces with Armenia, which has been occupying a part of Azerbaijan’s territory since the early 1990s.
According to Semneby, though a challenging situation has emerged with the approval of the Turkey-Armenia protocols, this would comply with both countries’ interests, as well as those of Azerbaijan.
"I am confident that in the long term, this also meets the interests of Azerbaijan, because it is also interested in the opening of borders in the region," the EU official said.
Semneby noted that the brief war fought by Russia and Georgia in August 2008 has shown that the South Caucasus states are vulnerable, and this vulnerability could be eliminated only by solving the outstanding problems. He also voiced confidence that Armenian leaders are of the same opinion.
"The status quo on Garabagh does not meet Armenia’s interests, and it cannot remain undefined forever," Semneby said.
According to him, mutual confidence should be strengthened in the South Caucasus to surmount the challenges, which, in fact, requires vigorous effort by third parties, such as the EU or Russia.
Semneby also said Russia's recognition of Georgia’s rebel South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions had set forth a precedent complicating settlement of the Garabagh conflict.
"[But] the link between these conflicts should not be embellished. Certainly, we deem Russia's recognizing these territories as problematic and unacceptable, and difficult discussions on the issue, including those with Russia, are still ahead," Semneby said, adding that the EU and Moscow share common priorities in other areas, and differences over Georgia should not pose roadblocks to efforts aiming to resolve other conflicts.*
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