What price should Armenia pay for Turkish border opening?

PanARMENIAN.Net - Another condition was the establishment of a joint commission on investigating the events of 1915. Besides, the Turkish authorities have laid down a new condition before Yerevan - the opening of the Turkish border is possible only after April 24.

According to the Turkish newspaper Star, the talks between Armenia and Turkey have entered the final stage. "The document to be signed by both parties envisages opening of the common border, establishment of trade relations and formation of a commission for investigation of 1915 events. Karabakh issue is not a governing condition," Turkish newspaper Star quoted a source in the ruling AK Party as saying. It is quite clear both for Turkey and Armenia that the joint commission can define nothing regarding the «events of 1915». The Ottoman archives of the period of World War I, if any are preserved, must have long been "cleared". However, there are also the archive documents of the US State Department, which keeps all the dispatches of US Ambassador to Istanbul Henry Morgenthau… Besides, it is improper for historians of international fame to deny the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

Talks between Armenia and Turkey started still in Berne in 2007. Despite the fact that the Armenian side kept denying the information on secret negotiations between the two countries, Turkish media circulated the misinformation for rather long. It is common knowledge that Turkey needs opening of the border much more than Armenia does, and under such circumstances it becomes incomprehensible why should Armenia give another tramp card to Turkey for the latter's integration into the EU and consolidation of her position as a regional power. If we consider the changes in the Armenian-Turkish relations for the past year, it must be admitted that it wasn't so successful for the Armenian diplomacy, though the border is nearly certain to open and Armenia has more chances to be part of regional projects. It is also of no small importance that Turkey is carrying out her policy without a glance at Azerbaijan. It would be too naïve, however, to consider that Ankara will utterly refuse the support from Azerbaijan, but, at the same time, she will make a curtsey to Yerevan, perfectly realizing that there is no other way out. However, we Armenians should never forget that Armenia is a bone in the throat of Turkey and Azerbaijan, whose final aim is but complete destruction of the Armenian nation. Even 94 years later the words of Talat Pasha put us on our guard as before, "No Armenian can be our friend after what we did with them…" One does not even want to believe that Armenians might be made to forget the year of 1915 and those following it.

Head of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan believes, opening of the border depends on two factors. "The first factor is the Municipal elections in Turkey due on March 29. At the forthcoming elections the ruling AK Party must ultimately strengthen its positions in the field of domestic policy. The other factor is related to the United States: whether President Barack Obama will use the term 'genocide' in his April 24 statement or not," Iskandaryan said, adding that the Karabakh issue is not, in fact, a key condition for Turkey in improving relations with Armenia.

Naturally enough, no border can remain eternally closed, especially in the 21st century. But one must always be aware and make sure that each of the sides is ready to pay the price for the uncertain world and for even more uncertain friendship. Karabakh issue is not central for Turkey now, but the situation might be changed when Turkey has to obey the orders of the USA and Europe in relation to Armenia. Then she will have a lever for oppressing Yerevan and there will be no need to close the border another time once again.