Tuesday, 13 October 2009
After the tug-of war between the parties throughout last week, Turkey and Armenia have signed the protocols in the Swiss city of Zurich. Taking the long-lasting problems into consideration, the recent rapprochement between Ankara and Yerevan is called “historic” by the experts. The external actors also reacted positively to the recent diplomatic initiative.
The EU is one of the international actors that welcomed the signing. In a joint statement on the signature of protocols establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey by EU Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Olli Rehn, it is said that “The European Commission warmly welcomes the signature by the Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers in Zurich...The Commission considers it a courageous and far-sighted step forward towards peace and stability in South Caucasus region and a truly historic decision showing readiness to compromise on both sides.”
The EU underlines the possible impacts of the rapprochement on the stability of the Caucasus. “This Armenia-Turkey agreement will benefit all countries in the South Caucasus region,” Rehn and Ferrero-Waldner said.
The experts evaluate the protocols as historic and think that the EU may play a positive role in the rapprochement process. Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, the Head of the USAK Center for EU Studies, comments on the issue by saying that “if the EU helps improving the diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan via financial and diplomatic support, it may be easier for the sides to develop a language of dialogue.”
Taking the EU’s possible role in Armenia’s democratization and Westernization, he adds that “consolidating democracy in Armenia and strengthening Armenia’s ties with Western democracies is of vital importance for the sustainable and peaceful integration of Armenia with the West. Yet, it is quite difficult to change the status quo in the region. It is time for every individual actor to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water.”
Apart from the EU, the US gives its support to the Turkish-Armenian dialogue. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton also played a very active role in signing the documents. She said after the ceremony that, “it is just what you sign up for...When you are trying to help people resolve long-standing problems between themselves; it is a very challenging process.”
By Mustafa Kutlay (JTW)
