Ex-minister questions Ankara`s sincerity on mending ties
The former Armenian foreign minister, Vardan
Oskanian, has said Turkey has no intention to normalize relations
with Armenia and that the ongoing process to mend the two
countries` strained ties "is an episode of another political play
being staged by Ankara."
"The Armenian authorities` biggest mistake is turning into a participant in this game," Oskanian said.
He opined further that Turkey is actually not interested in improving ties with Armenia and is simply trying to foster an opinion among the world community as if the century-long hostility between the Turks and Armenians is about to end. The former minister believes that, by normalizing relations with Yerevan, Ankara is actually trying to diminish Western pressure it is facing over its policy toward Armenia.
Oskanian said one of Turkey`s key goals is to resolve the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict in favor of Azerbaijan, its ally. It is for this reason that Turkey has capitalized on the issue of opening its border with Armenia, he claimed.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds, and the border between the two countries has been closed, since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and claims on the 1915 genocide during the Ottoman Empire. However, there have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties of late. The two governments announced in April a "roadmap" for re-establishing diplomatic relations and opening their shared border.
Oskanian also criticized Russia, accusing it of interfering with Armenia`s internal affairs. He termed as unacceptable Moscow`s disagreement with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian`s conferring the Order of Honor, the country`s top award, to his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Saakashvili, in Yerevan on June 24.
"The Armenian authorities` biggest mistake is turning into a participant in this game," Oskanian said.
He opined further that Turkey is actually not interested in improving ties with Armenia and is simply trying to foster an opinion among the world community as if the century-long hostility between the Turks and Armenians is about to end. The former minister believes that, by normalizing relations with Yerevan, Ankara is actually trying to diminish Western pressure it is facing over its policy toward Armenia.
Oskanian said one of Turkey`s key goals is to resolve the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict in favor of Azerbaijan, its ally. It is for this reason that Turkey has capitalized on the issue of opening its border with Armenia, he claimed.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds, and the border between the two countries has been closed, since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and claims on the 1915 genocide during the Ottoman Empire. However, there have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties of late. The two governments announced in April a "roadmap" for re-establishing diplomatic relations and opening their shared border.
Oskanian also criticized Russia, accusing it of interfering with Armenia`s internal affairs. He termed as unacceptable Moscow`s disagreement with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian`s conferring the Order of Honor, the country`s top award, to his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Saakashvili, in Yerevan on June 24.
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