Armenia can become one of regional energy hubs in case of opening borders with Turkey

February 17, 2010 - 18:39 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Turkish civil society seems to be the main pushing force behind the ratification of the protocols in Turkey, Dr. Sargis Ghazaryan, Senior Research Fellow at European Friends of Armenia organization believes.

“As we know, according to the provisions of the protocols, Turkey should open its border with Armenia in two months time after their ratification. Consequently, the real political question is whether Turkish government will contribute to their ratification by the Parliament in a reasonable timeframe, or would instead artificially postpone the vote up to the next legislature, thus killing them? Normally, when the executive needs to contribute to the passage of a legislation, it sets up positive communication campaigns countrywide, it organizes vote simulations inside its majority in the Parliament and engages civil society in order to raise awareness. I haven’t seen that happening in Turkey. Paradoxically, while from the very first day after the signature of the protocols official Ankara was adopting a logic of “what is mine is mine, what is yours is negotiable”, Turkish civil society seems to be the main pushing force behind the ratification of the protocols in Turkey.

As for the geopolitical value of an open border with Turkey, if its short term economic effects are properly managed, Armenia should use it to move forward in making sure it is integrated into the trans-regional energy networks. Moreover, Armenia can become one of the regional energy hubs considering the EU willingness to include Iran in Nabucco. The importance steel and coal had in the post-war European integration, hydrocarbons can have in the transformation of the post-Soviet conflict-torn and segmented the South Caucasus.

The EU needs to upgrade its involvement in this most decisive stage of the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement and contribute to demolishing of the deepest and tallest wall of Europe.

To sum up, yes, Turkey can open the border this year, and it is in Turkey’s best interest, too. What Turkey needs in order to go down that road is vision.

The ratification of the protocols and full implementation of their provisions are a necessary condition to overcome geography and to unleash the real potential of Armenia and eventually, of the South Caucasus. The success of such a process can put an end to nationalism and populism and boost diversity, multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism,” Sargis Ghazaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.