NO ESSENTIAL CHANGES IN ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

In response to our questions, ARA PAPYAN touches upon the prospects of regulating the Armenian-Turkish relations

“Judging by Serge Sargsyan’s public statements on improving the relations with Turkey and the responses of the Turkish circles, can we say that the ice is beginning to melt or there has been an ‘abrupt change’ in Armenia’s foreign policy in this regard?”
“Personally I don’t see any abrupt changes. As a matter of fact, Turkey has always strived for a dialogue, and that’s natural. Interstate relations are very much alike interpersonal relations, and if you have problems, you should at least sit and talk about them.
As to what issues such discussions should be devoted to and whether or not you are ready to make concessions is quite a different matter. The attitude of the Armenian side is well-known: since the regulation of the relations is in the interests of both parties, they are required to be in equal starting positions and have a dialogue without preconditions.
I think that attitude remains unchanged, and in that regard, there have been no essential changes in Armenia’s foreign policy. The same is true for the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border.”
By the way, I belong to the group of people who attach extreme importance to the opening of the border purely with economic considerations. I am not sure that it may produce a significant impact on Armenia but in any case, I consider that having open borders is always better than being blockaded.”
“Do you think the official Ankara is ready to meet the RA President’s diplomatic commitments half-way?”
“If the conversation is about watching a football match, I don’t think the proposal will be approved. This is the first thing to say. The second thing is that the approval will not provide a solution to any problem. Suppose he comes here, watches the football match and goes. Some words will be exchanged and forgotten, but this will not make any essential changes.
There is another important fact which should not be ignored. The interstate relations, whether bilateral or multi-lateral, are conditioned by interests and not vice versa. Unfortunately Turkey has been always pursuing the interest of oppressing us and keeping our country in a blockade. This is also a kind of index showing to what extent Turkey is well-disposed to us because they think that they are exerting pressure upon us by keeping the border closed.
At this point, there’s another factor which we often forget. That is the Azerbaijani factor. There were moments in the Armenian-Turkish relations when we were really close to opening the border; however, the pressure, the so-called blackmail of the Azerbaijani side, has always worked. This is something Armenia has mentioned many a time, stating that it is not allowed to the make bilateral relations dependant upon the relations with third countries. Let’s wait and see what developments will occur in future, but I don’t think there are essential changes awaiting us because the interests remain unchanged.
On the other hand, there is a legal issue here. No matter how much we may try to avoid, there arises the following question: which is the de-jure Armenian-Turkish border? What we have is the Soviet-Turkish border. By saying it is necessary to open the border, we mean that it is necessary to re-operate the Kars-Gyumri railroad, open the customs house of Margara and other places.
And besides, opening the border should not be identified with having broad or regular trade-economic relations. These are different things. It is possible to have a de-jure open border without the opportunity to import goods due to the absence of any agreements regulating the bilateral relations. That’s to say, it is necessary to have diplomatic relations; opening the border is not enough for solving any problem. It may only provide a solution to issues of local importance. Nothing more.”
“Is it possible to say that the statements of the President should be viewed from the tactical rather than strategic angle?”
“Probably. I don’t think Turkey is seeking to improve its relations with Armenia. And by voicing his approaches, President Serge Sargsyan showed the West once again that it’s not because of us that the border continues to remain closed. We weren’t the first to close the border and have no problem in terms of closing or opening it at present.
The explanations following the President’s statement make it obvious that Armenia is not ready to regulate its relations with Turkey at the price of anything. Although there was a moment when there were certain concerns over some ambiguity in the formulations and divergent interpretations. I myself have much experience in working with the press and know that very often you say something and later you have to prove that your statement was misinterpreted, and the accentuations were changed, mildly speaking.
The President has said that after establishing diplomatic relations and opening the border we are ready to sit and discuss all kinds of issues including those which are sensitive and problematic for both countries.
Of course, this doesn’t concern the historical fact of the Genocide. The thing is that the issue was speculated, and today I still have concerns that in the countries where we are close to the recognition of the Genocide, the Turks may represent the statement as a willingness to discuss the fact of the Genocide as well and lead the issue to a deadlock by making it a pretext. There may be speculations in that regard. But in case of being guided by such logic, we shouldn’t say or do anything because it may become a subject of speculations.”
“Is the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border really a fatal issue for us, as some people try to represent?”
“I don’t absolutely share that opinion. It seems to many people that we will be the main beneficiary as a result of Turkey’s lifting the blockade of Armenia. At least I don’t see any economic substantiation for that.
Moreover, the opening of the border is more beneficial to the Turkish side. You may argue by saying that Armenia has a very small share in Turkey’s trade circulation. But from the point of view of developing the underdeveloped eastern regions, the Turks will be the first to gain advantage because they will be the exporters. Let alone the fact that our agriculture may become faced with a hard situation.”
LILIT POGHOSYAN

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