Armenian-Turkish protocols. Part 2. One-man show

Armenian-Turkish protocols. Part 2. One-man show

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian-Turkish protocols have been brought back to the agenda of Turkey’s parliament, what, however, was no surprise for the Armenian side. Yerevan learned the news more than calm, without any illusions and with knowledge that normalization of relations with Armenia is anything but not Turkey’s intention.

Several versions are being debated. Some think that the protocols were returned under the pressure of the West, which doesn’t give up efforts to reconcile Armenia and Turkey.

On the other hand, protocols appear as a perfect leverage that can first of all be used in relations with Azerbaijan. Actually, the entire reconciliation process gives Ankara a good opportunity to manipulate Baku.

Furthermore, the return of protocols coincided with Turkey’s call on Azerbaijan to join the campaign against Israel. Ankara gave to understand that Baku “should keep in mind the possibility of problems with Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which conveys 10-20% of the total of volume of oil imported by Israel. Although Azerbaijan and Israel are strategic partners and the trade turnover between the countries exceeded $2 billion in 2010, which is twice more than that between Israel and Turkey, Baku will hardly say “no.”

In return, Ankara promises Azerbaijan to conduce to “return of occupied Azeri lands.”

It’s worth noting that Azerbaijan, which was, to put it mildly, indignant over the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process, now keeps silent: no single word was uttered to reproach the “elder brother” this time.

Besides, Turkey tries to press on Armenia to prevent it from withdrawing its signature from the protocols, as suggested by some political forces. Recently, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage party called on the parliament to remove the protocols from the agenda, what would be an adequate response to Turkey’s decision.

There is an impression that the story with protocols is just a show with one goal – to convince the international community that Turkey, which is bombing Kurds in Iraq, pressing on Syria, conflicting with Israel, imposing blockade on Cyprus and threatening it with war, is actually a country striving for peace and “zero problems with neighbors.”

This show, however, can’t deceive Armenia. Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov labeled Turkey’s “gesture” as a cheap trick.

Meanwhile, Yerevan doesn’t rule out that Ankara drag out the ratification process till 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Anyway, experts and politicians are unanimous that Turkey is not going to ratify the protocols in the near future and, consequently, no normalization can be expected.

Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News
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