Turkey Advises Azerbaijan To Forget Karabakh

Gursel, an analyst for one of the top newspapers in Turkey, concerned about the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and the break-away Karabakh Armenians (Armenia supports the cause of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination through referendum), calls on his brothers in Azerbaijan to act more wisely and give up their hopes for ever bringing back Nagorno Karabakh.

In a story, titled "Forgetting Karabakh Is In The Interest of Azeris," he writes with a certain certitude. "Azerbaijan cannot return Nagorno Karabakh under its rule neither through diplomacy, nor through war. It cannot do so with an economic embargo either. It's not even possible to predict such a development in the future either."

However, Gurcel also mentions that it may be realistic to think that Azerbaijan may be able to return the territories around Nagorno Karabakh back to its rule provided that a land corridor between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh is left. The president of Azerbaijan has also spoken with an understanding about the land corridor between Armenia and Karabakh. In return Armenia on several occasions has shown clear signs for a compromised honorable peace with Azerbaijan and hinted that its ready to work on return of land for Nagorno Karabakh's status deal.

Yet, Turkish analyst notes that "since the day that the issue of Nagorno Karabakh has become a battle center between the government of Azerbaijan and its opposition, that country is not showing the necessary flexibility for negotiating with Armenia for peace." He wants to clearly point out that the official Baku can't hope to reach a settlement by making war like statements. Azerbaijan on every occasion reminds its population and the world that its army is ready to "liberate" Nagorno Karabakh with force. This puts the country in contrast with the position of mediators, Turkey and the international community.

He concludes by making parralels between Cyprus and Nagorno Karabakh. "As Turkey in regard to Cyprus is trying hard to convince the world and the Greeks that it's impossible to return to the status that existed before 1974, in the same way there is a need to tell the brothers in Azerbaijan that to return Caucasus to the status that it had before 1992 is something that can't be achieved."

At the same time good things are happening on Armenian an Turkish relations. It is expected that Turkey will open the border with Armenia by the end of the year and both countries seem to be determined in giving a start to new chapter in their common history.

Now the need is to convince Azerbaijan to come on board.

Written by Armen Hareyan