There will be no calm in Caucasus until Armenia is indicated its place: Turkish MP

Canan Aritman: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced his intention to inform us about the reasons for the signing of the protocols and further action in this direction on Oct. 21. Borders were closed for political and diplomatic reasons. These reasons have not yet been eliminated. Over the past 17 years, none of the Turkish governments touched the subject of establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia and opening of borders. The reason is the continued occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.

We expect Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to fulfill promises he gave the parliaments of Turkey and Azerbaijan. The protocols signed will be put to a vote first in the Foreign Affairs Commission of the parliament and then in the Great National Assembly.

Q: Will parliament ratify the protocols?

A: RPP does not accept this protocol and will vote against it. But MPs from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) make up majority both in the commissions and in parliament as a whole. I am afraid that they will support the protocols. I also fear that the AKP does not meet promises not to open borders till the fact of occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories is eliminated.

Because the government earlier argued that the borders will not be opened, but soon signed the protocols. Now we see that the protocols have set a timeline for the opening of borders – two months. Signatures of Turkish officials stand under this specific date.

Q: What is the attitude of the Turkish society to the ongoing events?

A: We favor continuing the policy of Ataturk. Ataturk said that the joy of Azerbaijan is our joy and its grief is our grief. We will not take any steps that might provoke a backlash of Azerbaijan. We will do everything possible so that the Turkish parliament will not accept this decision, which affects interests of Azerbaijan. Anyone who supports the ideas of Ataturk in Turkey is against the opening of borders.

Turkish public is deeply concerned about the current situation. Armenia occupied the territory of a neighboring state, has played a major role in the deteriorating situation in the Caucasus. I think that there is no need to open borders with such a country, it must be punished. What will Turkey get from friendship with Armenia? Armenians do not respect any treaties. Over time, they will violate these agreements and return to the old. There will be no calm in the Caucasus until Armenia is indicated its place.

Q: Do you agree with the view that the protocols call into question the provision of the Kars Treaty?

A: The protocols do not indicate whether the Treaty of Kars will remain in force or not. According to the Kars Treaty, Turkey is a guarantor of Nakhchivan. However, these protocols does not rely on the Treaty of Kars and therefore this issue will no longer exist and Turkey will no longer be able to act as a guarantor of Nakhchivan. In addition, they do not mention anything about claims of Armenia to Anatolia. Turkey should have raised issue to cancel points in the Armenian Constitution which states that Eastern Anatolia is Western Armenia to the international forces demanding Turkey to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia.

Q: Are you going to visit a football match between Turkey and Armenia?

A: The government is undemocratic in this issue. Some groups in the parliament have not been sent out invitations to the Turkey-Armenia match. In addition, flags of Azerbaijan and Northern Cyprus are prohibited in the stadium. We contacted the relevant authorities to get the ban eliminated. We asked “why, unlike Armenian flag, there can be no Turkic flag at the stadium?” They saw the public reaction and stated later that there were no ban for flags. But this ban officially still remains in force.

/Day.Az/