Special for the Armenian Weekly
The historically positive relationship between Israel and the Republic of Turkey has been strained since the 2008-09 Gaza War and the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid. More recently, following U.S. pressure on both sides, a failed attempt of reconciliation between the two nations began in early 2013, with little to no development.1 Relations between Israel and Turkey hit a new low in October 2013, with the scandal over alleged Turkish involvement in the exposure of Israeli special agents in Iran.2 While military, strategic, and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations were once accorded high priority by both parties, Turkey’s legal challenge to Israel’s blockade of Gaza has shown that relations may never be fully restored.
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Now that Armenia has joined the EEU, I am not sure that I agree with this article’s conclusion that Turkey needs to lift the blockade with Armenia. To me it appears to be too little and too late for that already. Instead I think Armenia should work on the opposite approach and ensure that the east-west border be closed – for good – until 1. Azerbaijan is demilitarized and NK settled and 2. Turkey is made to answer her crimes of Genocide. Even if Armenia is projected to increase its GDP with open borders, let’s also not forget that this would also help its two genocidal neighbors, and in particular, occupied Western Armenia would be helped: without its Armenians. And because of what the Turkic odd couple did to Armenia, both Armenia and the Armenian diaspora need to always look for ways to harm any economic interests of these two nations, not just in their region, but also worldwide.
Instead, Armenia now can now look to the south and north and ensure that these two borders be secured and operational whereby allowing Armenia to conduct its business with the outside world through both Russia and Iran, the north being its door to the Far East and the West, and the south being its door to the Middle East. And doing business with Russia is far better for Armenia than the two genocidal western proxies, because now Russia is building its infrastructure to connect with the far east and this will come to provide Armenia with even better possibilities. The western maidan fools are all besides themselves and don’t know what to do to topple Russia’s economy in retaliation. Well, it may be effective in the short-run, but it will fail in the long-run. Russia has more natural resources than it knows what to do with.
All that is left to work out is deals with Iran and Georgia. I think Iran is easy to work with, while Georgia may be more complicated or problematic. But then again, since 2008 Georgia is no longer in any position to play a power trip over Armenia if it knows what’s good for itself, unless of course, it is eager for another stomp on the receiving end from the Russian bear.
Excellent article Mr. Janbazian.
Well researched and referenced.
It is quite true that the blockade by Turkey is illegal under International Law.
Turks falsely claim, of course, that they are not blockading RoA, but simply do not want to trade with Armenia, while, quote, “Armenia occupies Azerbaijani lands” (sic).
But as you amply documented, the illegality is in blockading commerce through Turkey between RoA and 3rd countries: no country, including Turkey, is obligated to trade with Armenia. But they are obligated not to interfere with civilian goods transiting Turkey, which btw, is occupied Armenian lands (Wilsonian Armenia: legally binding, Arbitral Award).
Having said that, we need to be coldly realistic.
To expect a country, which is by its nature criminal*, to respect any agreements it signs, is naïve.
To wit, The Treaty of Lausanne, which Turkey signed in 1923, stipulates a long list of obligations on Turkey vis-à-vis its minorities**.
How many of those have been actually respected by Turks ?
What have the other signatories of the Treaty done to enforce provisions of the treaty, which they are obligated to do ? Nothing.
So agreements, schmgreements.
Azerbaijan/Turkbaijan is a fake, criminal, terrorist State, run by a Crime Syndicate, which claims the present territory of RoA, including Yerevan, as, quote, “Western Azerbaijan” (sic).
Turkey is a genocidal, Anti-Christian, Anti-Western, Anti-Armenian, (radical) Islamist State which has as its national goal the elimination of the remaining Armenians from their homelands in Caucasus.
No ‘agreement’ between Armenians and Turks/Turkbaijanis will ever be honored by the invadonomads.
Any ‘agreement’ will be used by Turks to ‘disarm’ Armenians, while they continue their genocidal Pan-Turanic policies.
So what is the solution to the blockade and Armenia’s lack of direct access to the Black Sea or to Russia (either via land or via Caspian Sea) ?
—-
* A successor state of a criminal regime that committed Genocide against its own subjects, continues denying the AG, and continues efforts and policies of snuffing out Armenian presence from Caucasus.
**
http://www.faqs.org/minorities/Appendices/Section-III-of-the-Treaty-of-Lausanne-July-21-1923-Concerning-Protection-of-Minorities.html
“But they are obligated not to interfere with civilian goods transiting Turkey”
Based on what law? Nations can and do interfere with civilian goods transiting their territory every day of the week. Most do not to preserve mutual interests, but your dreaming if you think nations can demand unfettered access through the territory of others, whether landlocked or not.
But again, there is no blockade. Armenia can import/export commercial goods through Georgia and then via the Bosphorous (after paying its transit fees) and vice versa. Flight corridors remain open for civilian passage. The routes to Iran remain open. It’s unfortunate for Armenia that they find such routes expensive. This is a consequence of its own making and must accept this as a tradeoff for pursuing its own policy decisions and actions.
So what is the solution he asks? Other than invading your neighbors or Russia invading it for you, try three latin words: QUID PRO QUO
{“ Based on what law?”}
Did you read the article ? Read it and then ask the same question.
{In 1969, the Republic of Turkey acceded to the Convention on Transit Trade of Land Locked States of 1965.}
Regarding “Other than invading your neighbors or Russia invading it for you,..”
Pretty rich coming from a Turk.
I am guessing you, a Turk, consider the invasion of Republic of Cyprus by the Turkish military a friendly visit ?
Why is Turkey still occupying 40% of Cyprus ?
What are Turks doing in Asia Minor ?
How did you Turks from Uyguristan end up in Asia Minor ?
What happened to all the indigenous peoples who used to live there ?
Here is a little story about the alleged “invading your neighbors”.
In 1991 Azerbaijan SSR declared independence and seceded from USSR.
By doing so, its Soviet mandate to _administer _ NKAO ended on that day.
NKAO declared independence and became NK Republic.
Azerbaijan military invaded with full force in an attempt to exterminate and ethnically cleanse the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh.
The attempted Genocide of Armenians by Turks/Turkbaijanis failed.
Artsakh’s Armenians, supported by RoA and Diaspora Armenians threw out the Turkic invaders and also liberated historic Armenian lands outside NKAO footprint.
In an impotent rage, Turkey joined their Turkic kin in blockading RoA in an attempt to snuff the remaining Armenians from Caucasus.
After having successfully exterminated indigenous Armenians of Western Armenia via a series of massacres, later to be classified as Genocide.
Between 1894 and 1923, approximately 2 million indigenous Armenians were exterminated by invading nomadic Turkic tribes from Uyguristan.
The attempt to snuff out RoA and NKR by Turkey has failed.
Both ROA and NKR are getting stronger year by year.
Time is on our side.
Kurds will become independent and we will have access to the Black Sea one way or another.
Or we will have a border with Russia one way or another.
Turks are foreign invaders in these parts who over centuries have murdered and ethnically cleansed indigenous peoples, including Armenians.
Your ancestral homelands are in Uyguristan, Zeki.
We don’t need the permission of Uyguroglu Turks to live on our own ancestral lands.
Very very well explained.If I may add even, even if great Turkey obliged and opened the borders(they were the ones to close it anyhow)there is no guarantee they would not only to close it back but also even if they had let free shipping through the (BOGHAS) DARDANELLES THROAT or Bosphorus shut in order to prevent us Armenians to pass through.I never would such a neighbour.Let our ¨¨paremid compatriots ¨´ not to say Barzamid(simple minded think the besst of them….Not me nor the like of me….I know they consider us as their arch enemy….
One more thing,who said Armenia suffered by there illegal border losings????? Iran had its bordders wide open and operating with Armenina. So did Georgia..also have in view that if need be Armenia can ship by steamers its transit goods via the Black SEA UP NORTH TO eURO OR RUSSIAN PORTS and theron to all over. Iran´s Souther ports are Ocean going and with construction of the new railway between Iran and Armenian will facilitate plenty more transit activity to the chagrin of our Turkbeijani neibours.
Shad Parevner hasgcoghin
Dear Mr. Janbazian,
The article you wrote was very educational and well researched. In fact, Armenia would love to have an open border with Turkey. It would boost the Armenian economy as now many Armenians go to Turkey through Georgia in order to purchase items and bring back to Armenia for selling. But Turkey puts conditions such us recognizing the current border of Turkey, abandonment of claims regarding Armenian Genocide of 1915 and, finally, releasing lands under control of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh). Some, or all, are not acceptable conditions for Armenians. Let Turkey keep it closed. Also, Armenia doesn’t like the language of conditions.