All words uttered by Erdogan in Baku, are simply… words

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Our stance on Nagorno-Karabakh is clear, and there has never been any deviation from this stance," stated Erdogan in the Azerbaijani parliament. "We want the problem to be resolved on the basis of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We have never taken any steps that could harm the national interests of Azerbaijan and will never take such steps. There will be no normalization until the occupation of Azerbaijani territory is over." And straight off - "Our government's policy of reconciliation with Armenia is advisable. Lack of solution in the disputes in the South Caucasus region serves no one's interests." Erdogan also said Turkey`s efforts were aimed not only at normalization of ties with Armenia but also at contributing to the welfare and stability in the entire region.

Coming to power in 2002, the Justice and Development Party led by Erdogan promised "zero problems with neighbors". For this very reason the Head of Turkish MFA is now Ahmet Davutoglu, careful and experienced a diplomat. Actually, Ali Babacan carried out his unskilled labor, and now it's time for more delicate and accurate work. Especially because after April 22 Yerevan turned to be sharper in expressions. This was the price for the instantaneous reaction of the RA Foreign Ministry and the President to the attempt of Turkey to interfere in the regulation process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "The most useful thing Turkey can do to contribute to peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, is to abstain from the interference into this process", declared RA President Sargsyan and FM Nalbandyan.

Meanwhile, on the one hand the USA and the European Union are allegedly looking forward to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, but on the other they fear to lose Azerbaijan, which would weaken the energy dependence of Europe on Russia.

And here we come to the central aim of Erdogan's visit to Baku: the rate for the Azerbaijani gas. It was clear from the very beginning that Baku would press Ankara by raising prices for the gas. It was obvious the moment secret negotiations between Armenian and Turkish diplomats began in Switzerland. Not in vain did the newspaper Today's Zaman appear with the title "Gas price increase on the way."

Erdogan, who travelled to Baku accompanied by Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and other ministers, said officials from the two countries would discuss changing the price at which Ankara purchases the Azerbaijani natural gas. Price for the gas Turkey receives from "Shah Deniz" gas-condensate field will be reviewed in accordance with market prices for gas. According to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, the price $120 per 1,000 cubic meters corresponded to the cost of gas in 2001, when the contract was concluded. The contract concluded between Azerbaijan and Turkey stipulates that the price for the gas from "Shah Deniz" be reviewed only one year after the commencement of the supply process, i.e. the new price can be used only since April 15, 2010. But Baku made a different decision. However, Erdogan doesn't seem to be one to obey Ilham Aliyev; he is eager to establish his country as a regional power. And in order to achieve his goal he had better sacrifice Azerbaijan, especially because the latter is simply being troublesome…

"The main idea of the Armenian-Turkish agreement on the road map is that normalization of relations should proceed simultaneously with the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement but at the same time be independent of it," stated Mustafa Aydin, Head of the International Relations Department at TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara. He emphasized that opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is not linked to the Karabakh conflict resolution. "The border will certainly be opened and, possibly earlier than we expect," he noted.

As to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan, Prof. Aydin said it was "to the audience" just like Erdogan's statement made in Baku on normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. "Actually, Turkish PM visited Baku to negotiate some energy issues, specifically the Nabucco project and the Azerbaijani gas price," he said. We have all the grounds to more believe the Turkish professor than the Azeri media outlets.

Karine Ter-Sahakyan