February 5, 2013 - 20:26 AMT
OPINION
Turkey’s attempt to meddle in Karabakh settlement no longer funny

Turkish authorities seem to be unable to accept the failure become involved in Karabah conflict settlement, with the fact proved by a recent statement of the country’s Foreign Minister.

As Ahmet Davutoglu remarked at the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, “Turkey will boost its role in the settlement of Karabakh conflict and other regional issues.”

The remark was followed by a cooked-up statement, suggesting that a peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict depends on withdrawal of Armenian forces from the mythical “occupied Azerbaijani territories," i.e. liberated territories of Artsakh.

A wish to meddle seems to be what unifies Turkish authorities with the country’s opposition. Today, Yalovamiz Turkish daily reported that the opposition Nationalistic Movement Party has launched a signature collection campaign to protest against so-called “occupation of Azeri lands” and support Turkey’s involvement in Karabakh settlement.

As the daily said, the signatures will be submitted to the White House and the UN. Turkey periodically attempts to stress the need for a “change in the OSCE Minsk Group composition.”

“There is a need to make changes in the OSCE Minsk Group,” a spokesman for Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Selcuk said in December.

“OSCE Minsk Group has lost its neutrality,” Unal said. “It is out of question that the country, which has adopted slandering draft laws against Turkey at the parliament, is neutral to Armenia, so France’s membership in OSCE Minsk Group should be reconsidered. Russia’s support for Armenia is not a secret. The countries such as Ireland located far from the region, don’t need to be represented in the OSCE Minsk Group. Turkey is ready to show it’s objectivity in this issue.” By “draft laws slandering Turkey” Unal means the bill on criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial, which has long been an issue of Ankara’s special concern.

Only Azerbaijan can believe in Turkey’s “objectivity,” it being common knowledge that Ankara and Baku’s understanding of objectivity is contrary to the universal one.

Thus, there’s no need to comment on a clearly biased Turley’s striving to “contribute” to Karabakh settlement. It’s even not funny any more.

Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News