It’s time for Turkey to abandon language of ultimatums

November 29, 2013 - 20:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has fuelled its foreign policy after the world powers and Iran signed in Geneva an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Ankara’s anxiety is what is quite understandable: Iran is emerging as a regional power with its oil and gas resources.

Although no official statements have been made, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan have reportedly signed a package of landmark contracts earlier this week that will see the semi-autonomous region's oil and gas exported via pipelines through Turkey.

Also, there are no official comments on persisting rumors about the possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border.

A Turkiye daily report said that Ankara is planning to open the border with Armenia. According to the paper, Turkey plans to demine 4 million square meters out of 11,6 million at the border with Armenia. For that purpose, a necessary sum of Euro 52,4 million will be provided by the EU (75%) and Turkish Ministry of Defense (25%). The project also envisages provision of new equipment to border posts, the daily said.

As Sabah reported earlier, “Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s remarks on some creative ideas Turkey suggested to normalize relations with Armenia are gaining a new meaning.”

“Following talks with Putin and Obama, Ankara is readying a roadmap to establish peace in South Caucasus,” the daily said. According to Sabah, “Yerevan already pledged to “cede 2 liberated regions to Azerbaijan,” however Ankara demanded a written statement confirming the move. “Should Armenia announce its decision, Davutoglu will visit Yerevan December 12,” the daily said.

It’s worth noting that Turkey’s language of ultimatums doesn’t produce the desired result in case with Armenia. And whether Davutoglu decides to visit Yerevan or not, it’s his own business.

Ankara is apparently preparing for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, although in a very peculiar way. First, Prime Minister Erdogan and his Foreign Minister had better make things clear with their “zero problems with neighbors” policy, which is cracking in all directions, including Azerbaijan.

And, to say it once again, Iran is a different country now and Erdogan will have to take it into consideration. Besides, if the Geneva 2 gathering helps damp the war in Syria, the Turkish PM, who hasn’t been able to decide whether to support the government or opposition forces since the beginning of the Arab Spring, will have much more problems.