News
Show news feed

Carnegie scholars Tom de Waal and Henri Barkey, as well as David Phillips of Columbia University and Carnegie’s Ambassador James Collins held a discussion concerning Armenian-Turkish relations dedicated to the anniversary of protocols signed in 2009 in Zurich.

Speaking of the Armenian-Turkish process Henri Barkey noted that the documents are not dead but are on “life-support”. He named two main reasons why Turkey signed the documents. By agreeing to the protocols, Turkey intended to ensure that Obama wouldn’t use the word genocide to describe the killings of Armenians in his annual April 24 address. According to him, saying G-word would be considered as a catastrophe by Turkey. The second reason is Turkey pursues an ambitious goal to become a significant world power. Thus, signing the documents, Ankara wanted to get rid of the stigma of genocide that would significantly aid international perceptions of Turkey. He also added that the protocols did not mention the Karabakh issue. However, Azerbaijan’s reaction came too quickly.

In his turn, David Phillips stressed that the Armenian-Turkish relations would not move forward without the U.S. playing a proactive role in the reconciliation process. Being a member of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) Phillips stressed importance of its activities for both countries, adding that TARC’s projects re-opened official contact between Ankara and Yerevan.

Speaking of the linkage between Armenian-Turkish protocols and the Karabakh conflict, David Phillips stated that documents do not mention Karabakh but there is a metaphysical connection between the issues. Carnegie scholar Tom de Waal stressed that Turkish side wants the issues to be coupled. It is impossible that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will make any concessions on Karabakh, he added.

 

 

 

 

!
This text available in   Հայերեն and Русский
Print
Read more:
All
Photos