In a statement released on August 14, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to recent statement made by Dirdctor of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) Richard Giragosian. Giragosian was quoted by the Armenian media as saying that a “secret agreement” between Turkey and Russia was signed granting Russia access through Turkish airspace to resupply Russian miliotary base #102 in the northern Armenian city of Gyumri. The report was also widely disseminated, as the Azerbaijani “Trend” news agency printed a statement on August 15 released by the Turkish Embassy in Baku that refuted the “information about arms shipments to the Russian military base in Armenia via Turkish airspace.” The Turkish Embassy in Baku released an official statement to the Azerbaijani media claiming that “such information is a step towards breaking friendship and fraternity of Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin criticized Giragosian’s comments in an interview with the Turkish “Hurriyet” daily newspaper, stating that “it’s an obvious provocation aimed at breaking friendly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

As the official Turkish spokesman did not deny the essence of Giragosian’s comments, his comments sparked heated calls by leading Turkish opposition newspapers demanding that Turkey should immediately break off negotiations with Russia. The “Milliyet” daily, for example, argued that “Russian arms supplied to Armenia will be used against Azerbaijan,” adding that “assisting (the) Russian military base is out of the question.”

In subsequent comments on this issue, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian noted that “the fact that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt compelled to officially respond to my comments reported in the Armenian media only reveals the lack of trust inherent in Turkish-Russian relations and further demonstrates the weakness of Turkish foreign policy regarding its engagement of Armenia.” He also said that the incident “questions the sincerity of Turkey’s earlier promises to forge new relations with Armenia, including a commitment to end its blockade of Armenia and to address the legacy of the Armenian genocide.” Giragosian explained that “the burden is now on Turkey, as the international community is now becoming increasingly impatient with what appears to be Turkey’s indecisiveness and lack of good will toward Armenia.”

Giragosian also stressed that “even if Turkey decides to reopen the border with Armenia and to extend diplomatic relations with Armenia, such moves should not be misinterpreted as any kind of gift or reward to Armenia, as such minimal steps merely represent the basic requirements for civilized countries.” He concluded by reiterating the fact that “although there is still at least some degree of optimism, it is Turkey that is in danger of missing a strategic opportunity to move forward with Armenia.”