| Brussels, Oct 10, 2002- The EU office of the Forum of Armenian Associations or Europe (FAAE) today appealed to the European institutions to reaffirm their call for EU candidate Turkey to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and end its blockade of that country.
The call follows signs of a crackdown in Turkey against Turkish citizens who have sought to build bridges with neighbouring Armenia. The Turkish government thus recently dismissed Tayyer Oral, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of border town Igdir, after he returned from a trip to Armenia. Oral is one of a number of Turkish citizens to have called for a change in Turkey’s policy towards its small neighbour. The Turkish authorities’ renewed hostility was expressed bluntly by Turkish State Minister Resat Dogru: “No international organization, including the EU, can force Turkey to open its border with Armenia” (20/8/02; AFP; Baku).
The EU’s repeated insistence that Turkey must establish relations with Armenia had led to a series of meetings between Turkish and Armenian foreign Ministers. The dialogue was interrupted however due to the forthcoming elections in Turkey.
The FAAE calls upon the EU to speak out now, as it prepares to make public its report on Turkey’s “progress towards accession” and in advance of the November 3rd elections in Turkey. The EU should make it clear that it expects the government to emerge from the elections to normalize relations with Armenia and support, rather than sanction, those Turkish citizens working for improved relations with Armenia.
The Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe was established in 1998 to assemble and facilitate cooperation between Armenian organisations in the Diaspora. It counts member organisations in 18 European countries. The Forum deals with all issues of interest to its member organisations, including international relations, human rights issues, economic cooperation and cultural matters.
BACKGROUND
Turkey has maintained a diplomatic boycott of Armenia and a blockade of that country for nearly 10 years. The policy has cost the region dearly, as it blocks trade routes vital not only to Armenia and Turkey, but to the entire area. The main road and rail routes from Turkey to the Caspian, for instance, go through Armenia, and are currently closed due to the blockade.
Turkey’s policy is explained by the Turkish authorities in reference to the situation in Mountainous Karabakh, whose predominantly Armenian population secured its independence in the course of a war with against Azerbaijan’s army in the early 1990’s. Azerbaijan, an oil-rich and Turkic nation, is
considered an important ally by the Turkish Republic.
The World Bank has estimated the cost of the blockade to Armenia alone at between $ 500 and 700 million, or up to 38% of its GNP. In recent years, a number of Turkish businessmen, mostly working in connection with the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, have spoken out in Turkey in
favour of opening the border.
By contrast with its policy towards Armenia, Turkey established diplomatic relations with Iraq two years ago, and has been trading with that country for years in defiance of UN sanctions .
FURTHER INFORMATION:
1. All EU institutions call for lifting the blockade of Armenia (December
2001)- press release:
http://www.armenianforum.org/site/english/eu-contact/docs-news/E-20011130.PDF
2. The blockade of Armenia by Turkey: none of your business? (October 2001)
Full report on:
http://www.armenianforum.org/site/english/projects/docs/Blockade_of_Armenia_by_Turkey.PDF
3. TABDC: The Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, and particularly; August, 14 press release: “The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Igdir and TABDC organize a trip of 40 businessmen from the Turkish North Eastern provinces of Igdir, Kars and Ardahan to Armenia on August, 16-17”.
http://tabdc.org/index.html |
Akgün Medya