{"id":15295,"date":"2009-10-10T11:06:28","date_gmt":"2009-10-10T09:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turkishforum.com.tr\/en\/content\/?p=15295"},"modified":"2014-01-05T17:30:41","modified_gmt":"2014-01-05T15:30:41","slug":"turkey-made-the-world-remember-karabakh-conflict-but-at-what-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/2009\/10\/10\/turkey-made-the-world-remember-karabakh-conflict-but-at-what-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"TURKEY MADE THE WORLD REMEMBER KARABAKH CONFLICT… BUT AT WHAT COST?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Thursday, 01 October 2009<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"ergun_s\"The TRT interview with Sedat Laciner, the Director of\u00a0International Strategic Research Organization, \u00abTurkey Made The World Remember Karabakh Conflict\u00bb published in\u00a0www.HistoryofTruth.com on\u00a030 September 2009, concerning the protocols that will allegedly be\u00a0signed on\u00a0October 10 by\u00a0Turkey and Armenia, is\u00a0replete with perceptions and\/or predictions that I\u00a0find hard to\u00a0accept or\u00a0support. I\u00a0decided to\u00a0share with my\u00a0readers my\u00a0responses to\u00a0that interview on\u00a0a\u00a0line-by-line basis.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

TRT: Why Switzerland?<\/p>\n

LACINER: First of\u00a0all, it\u00a0is\u00a0hard to\u00a0find countries that do\u00a0not support Armenian allegations.<\/p>\n

(EK: There are no\u00a0countries in\u00a0the entire continents of\u00a0Asia or\u00a0Africa which support Armenian allegations. There are only three countries in\u00a0Latin America and only two in\u00a0North America which support Armenian allegations (all because of\u00a0the Armenian political pressure.) Out of\u00a055 or\u00a0so\u00a0countries in\u00a0Europe, small or\u00a0large, only 15 support Armenian allegations (also because of\u00a0the Armenian political intimidation.) In\u00a0summary, out of\u00a0some 204 countries which are members of\u00a0the U.N., only about 20 countries support Armenian allegations-i.e. less than 10 percent. Therefore, to\u00a0say \u00abit\u00a0is\u00a0hard to\u00a0find countries that do\u00a0not support Armenian allegations\u00bb is\u00a0incorrect, unfair, and if\u00a0not based on\u00a0ignorance or\u00a0sloppiness, may be\u00a0even considered malicious.)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 Of\u00a0course it\u00a0would be\u00a0better if\u00a0it\u00a0would be\u00a0an\u00a0objective country like England,<\/p>\n

(EK: England? Objective? Really? England is\u00a0the one party that is\u00a0most responsible for the continuation of\u00a0the genocide allegations today which are based on\u00a0the Blue Book, wartime propaganda material compiled and edited by\u00a0Toynbee and Bryce. The Turkish parliament in\u00a02005 sent a\u00a0joint letter\/request to\u00a0the House of\u00a0Commons and Lords to\u00a0take back the hearsay and forgeries contained in\u00a0that book and apologize to\u00a0Turkey for causing immeasurable suffering by\u00a0deliberately spreading falsified information. England was at\u00a0the heart of\u00a0using Ottoman-Armenians against the Ottoman Empire before, during, and after the WWI. To\u00a0call England objective would be\u00a0to\u00a0ignore history.)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026but the mission of\u00a0mediation is\u00a0an\u00a0important factor here. Switzerland was not very ambitious for mediation.<\/p>\n

(EK: It\u00a0is\u00a0unacceptable, if\u00a0not also embarrassing, to\u00a0have to\u00a0go\u00a0to\u00a0Switzerland, hat in\u00a0hand, and asking for their mediation. Switzerland has passed a\u00a0law banning questioning a\u00a0certain characterization of\u00a0a\u00a0historic event without the court verdict supporting such ban. Thus, the Swiss have chosen to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0party to\u00a0the conflict. Who are these Turkish negotiators who ignorantly brought Switzerland into this conflict, much less begged for their mediation? Don\u2019t\u00a0they have any idea what happened in\u00a01920 in\u00a0a\u00a0small town called Sevres just a\u00a0few kilometers from where they are? Did they forget about spirit of\u00a0Lausanne 1923?)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 On\u00a0the other hand, it\u00a0could be\u00a0an\u00a0advantage for Turkey that Switzerland previously gave support to\u00a0the Armenian allegations.<\/p>\n

(EK: How can Switzerland\u2019s\u00a0blatantly pro-Armenian beliefs and policies be\u00a0an\u00a0advantage? How can any logical and informed person believe such a\u00a0na\u00efve\u00a0suggestion?)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 Turkey can make itself understood better and same time it\u00a0can strengthen its thesis.<\/p>\n

(EK: Turkey needs Switzerland to\u00a0be\u00a0understood? Or\u00a0strengthen its thesis? Is\u00a0it\u00a0not strong enough now? How can it\u00a0be\u00a0stronger by\u00a0talking to\u00a0the Swiss?)<\/p>\n

TRT: What is\u00a0the position of\u00a0Azerbaijan?<\/p>\n

LACINER: Turkey is\u00a0already making all steps with Azerbaijan. Karabakh problem is\u00a0as\u00a0important as\u00a0the issue of\u00a0so\u00a0called Armenian genocide for Turkey. Turkey already declared this and Prime Minister several times underlined that fact. In\u00a0the process, if\u00a0we\u00a0count Switzerland, Azerbaijan is\u00a0like a\u00a0fourth party. Besides, Turkey and Azerbaijan constantly share information about the processes. Azerbaijan is\u00a0being informed about developments, other than that Turkey took the approval of\u00a0Azerbaijan about this issue. Azerbaijan is\u00a0aware of\u00a0Turkey\u2019s\u00a0good will and they trust Turkey.<\/p>\n

(EK: Is\u00a0that why Aliyev hastily went to\u00a0Russia last May to\u00a0promise Nabucco-earmarked gas to\u00a0Russian gas pipeline as\u00a0soon as\u00a0news of\u00a0Turkey-Armenia border opening hit the Turkish media? Because Azerbaijan trusts Turkey?)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 The World was unaware of\u00a0the occupation in\u00a0Karabakh till now. The land that Armenia keeps under occupation is\u00a0more than the land that Israel invaded. Turkey made the world realize the occupation in\u00a0Nagorno-Karabakh.<\/p>\n

TRT: What will be\u00a0the gains of\u00a0Turkey?<\/p>\n

LACINER: Success of\u00a0protocols is\u00a0dependent on\u00a0the process of\u00a0resolution of\u00a0Nagorno-Karabakh problem, and that is\u00a0told to\u00a0Obama, Russia and France. The next meeting towards resolution of\u00a0Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0much more serious mood.<\/p>\n

(EK: We\u00a0will see soon enough, won\u2019t\u00a0we? Too much is\u00a0bet on\u00a0too few \u00abperceived\u00bb gains that are questionable and doubtful.)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 First of\u00a0all, this process (alone) is\u00a0the gain of\u00a0Turkey by\u00a0itself.<\/p>\n

(EK: Says who?)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 In\u00a0the opinion of\u00a0international community, Turkey had an\u00a0image like Turkey was smothering Armenia and not letting it\u00a0develop. By\u00a0this process Turkey proved that it\u00a0is\u00a0not aggressive.<\/p>\n

(EK: Not a\u00a0convincing argument. Even if\u00a0it\u00a0were true, does the dubious outcome justify the high cost?)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 If\u00a0protocols can be\u00a0realized Turkey will gain many more advantages. A\u00a0committee of\u00a0historians is\u00a0planned to\u00a0be\u00a0established. Such a\u00a0committee may undermine the genocide allegations of\u00a0Armenian Diaspora.<\/p>\n

Although there are rumours about borders, recognition of\u00a0borders clearly mentioned in\u00a0protocols.<\/p>\n

Although Armenia does not recognize treaty of\u00a0Kars now, they will be\u00a0recognizing it\u00a0through protocols.<\/p>\n

Dashnaks are very uncomfortable that ratifying protocols will mean that Armenia recognizes Turkey\u2019s\u00a0territorial integrity.<\/p>\n

(EK: As\u00a0you read these lines, Armenia\u2019s\u00a0constitution still refers to\u00a0eastern Anatolia as\u00a0Western Armenia. Armenia\u2019s\u00a0politicians and Diaspora make no\u00a0secret of\u00a0the fact that they want land and reparations fro Turkey. So, what exactly does it\u00a0mean to\u00a0say \u00abrecognition of\u00a0borders clearly mentioned in\u00a0protocols\u00bb? At\u00a0the first opportunity, cannot Armenia easily say \u00abYes, Turks put that statement in\u00a0the protocol, but we\u00a0never agreed to\u00a0it\u00bb? Then what?<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 What will be\u00a0the gains of\u00a0Turkey? We\u00a0can count three of\u00a0them. First is\u00a0recognition of\u00a0borders,<\/p>\n

(EK: Let\u2019s\u00a0not count the eggs before the chickens lay them. We\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0even have chickens yet\u2026)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 second is\u00a0about genocide allegations, and third is\u00a0Nagorno-Karabakh problem.<\/p>\n

(EK: Protocol before resolution in\u00a0Karabagh or\u00a0resolution in\u00a0Karabagh before protocol? That is\u00a0the question. It\u00a0should have been the latter. Now a\u00a0resolution in\u00a0Karabagh will be\u00a0harder. Why would Armenia feel motivated to\u00a0end its military occupation and allow Azeri refugees to\u00a0return now that Armenia got what it\u00a0wanted?)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 Normalization of\u00a0relations would be\u00a0the fourth gaining for Turkey.<\/p>\n

TRT: What kind of\u00a0developments are expected to\u00a0happen in\u00a0Armenia and Caucasus?<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 Opening of\u00a0borders will affect Russia.<\/p>\n

(EK: After the Georgian war, Russia was trapped in\u00a0Armenia. Turkey, through its ill-advised protocols with Armenia, not only saved Armenia but also Russia-in-Armenia.)<\/p>\n

LACINER: \u2026 But the main problem might be\u00a0the situation of\u00a0Georgia. Since Armenia and Azerbaijan use Georgia as\u00a0a\u00a0route for transportation, the influence of\u00a0Georgia will decrease. On\u00a0the other hand, Azerbaijan will have another gate to\u00a0World and it\u00a0will be\u00a0relaxing for Azerbaijan. But we\u00a0should not be\u00a0expecting results so\u00a0soon. Moving in\u00a0hurry may cause conflicts in\u00a0Nagorno-Karabakh.<\/p>\n

(EK: Diplomacy and international relations are a\u00a0balancing act of\u00a0interests, not unlike a\u00a0trade. The Turkish term describes it\u00a0bets: \u00abalis-veris\u00bb taking-and-giving. What these protocols represent fro Turkey is\u00a0\u00abveris-veris\u00bb, giving-and-giving.)<\/p>\n

What if\u00a0we\u00a0lose Azerbaijan\u2019s\u00a0friendship and support because of\u00a0a\u00a0murky dealing with Armenia? Who will fill the Baku-Tiflis-Ceyhan pipeline with oil?<\/p>\n

Nothing would make me\u00a0happier that to\u00a0be\u00a0proven wrong on\u00a0all of\u00a0the above. But I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0hold out any hope that the upcoming developments will prove me\u00a0wrong anytime soon\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thursday, 01 October 2009 The TRT interview with Sedat Laciner, the Director of\u00a0International Strategic Research Organization, \u00abTurkey Made The World Remember Karabakh Conflict\u00bb published in\u00a0www.HistoryofTruth.com on\u00a030 September 2009, concerning the protocols that will allegedly be\u00a0signed on\u00a0October 10 by\u00a0Turkey and Armenia, is\u00a0replete with perceptions and\/or predictions that I\u00a0find hard to\u00a0accept or\u00a0support. I\u00a0decided to\u00a0share with my\u00a0readers my\u00a0responses […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":783687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-armenian-question"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/783687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}