Opposition raises voice to prevent Gül’s visit to Yerevan
Although deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will not attend a soccer game between Armenia and Turkey in Yerevan this weekend, it is likely that President Abdullah Gül will attend the match upon an invitation from his Armenian counterpart despite harsh criticism from the opposition
While some academics say they cannot understand the attitude of the opposition, others say the visit may indeed be problematic.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan had previously invited Gül to watch the Sept. 6. World Cup qualifying match between the Turkish and Armenian national teams in Yerevan, with which Ankara does not have any official relations.
The necessary diplomatic back channels are in place for organizing the possible presidential visit.
Turkey’s opposition parties have been extremely critical of Gül’s possible visit. Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said the government is trying to reverse the country’s official policy without Armenia meeting any of the conditions demanded by Turkey for the normalization of ties. He also warned against alienating Azerbaijan, saying this country is of vital importance for Turkey in many respects.
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), whose late leader, Alparslan Türkeş, worked to improve ties between Turkey and Armenia, has also opposed Gül’s possible visit. MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli has said Gül’s visit would be a historic mistake that would harm Turkey’s national pride.
Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Armenia’s independence, but it closed its border and severed formal ties with Yerevan after Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Turkish policy, the normalization of ties requires an Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijani territory, the shelving of Yerevan’s support for the Armenian diaspora’s efforts to win international recognition for Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire and Armenia’s formal recognition of the current border with Turkey.
Professor Hasan Köni, from Bahçeşehir University’s international relations department, says a visit by Gül to Yerevan would be in Turkey’s interests and that if the opposition is opposing it, it may be because they are not well informed about the recent situation in the Caucasus.
“The situation in the Caucasus is even more complicated now. Turkey is trying to follow a policy that serves stability. Gül’s visit will serve this aim,” Köni says, adding that the Foreign Ministry should inform the opposition parties about the recent situation in the Caucasus.
Baskın Oran, another professor of international relations who supports Gül’s possible visit to Yerevan, said that he finds it difficult to understand the position taken by the opposition parties. “Actually, I was not surprised by the attitude of the CHP. … But the MHP’s stance is surprising since their late chairman worked to improve relations between Turkey and Armenia,” he says.
But another opposition party, the Democratic Society party (DTP), supports Gül’s visit to Yerevan. DTP co-chairwoman Emine Ayna pointed out that the soccer game will not solve the problems between the two countries and Turkey will not lose anything, but that Gül’s visit will nonetheless serve to develop dialogue between the two countries.
“Turkey is in denial about some things and the Armenians have some negative attitudes. These problems should be solved,” Ayna told the Cihan news agency recently.
Apart from diplomatic concerns, the main practical reason for opposing Gül’s visit is security.
Many AK Party deputies wanted to attend the game, but the party administration decided not to give permission due to security concerns.
Kaan Soyak, from the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council, stressed that a new beginning is needed and that security will be assured in Yerevan. “I don’t think that there will be protests but if there are any, the Armenian state will silence them,” Soyak said.
But Center for International Relations and Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM) Chairman Sinan Ogan is doubtful about security in Armenia and warns that if there are any protests or security problems, relations between two countries could get even worse. “It is very difficult to control a stadium. There is a huge risk there and I am not sure it is worth taking this risk,” he said.
Meanwhile, Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim said yesterday at a press conference the game in Yerevan is a game, not a war: “It is true that our rivals will prepare for this game with a special motivation. For us this is just a soccer game. When I think about my friends from all over the world that I met because of soccer, it is impossible for me think in another way. You cannot prepare yourself for a game while thinking about history and political problems. We cannot carry the burden of history on our shoulders, if we do that it will slow us down.”
03 September 2008, Wednesday
AYŞE KARABAT ANKARA
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