Domino effect of Turkey-Armenia warmth to coat Gate of Orient, says analyst

The warm winds of change in Turkish-Armenian ties will somehow create a domino effect with positive implications, from the lifting of the blockade on Nakhichevan to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, according a senior foreign policy analyst from an Ankara-based think tank

The warming relations between Turkey and Armenia could change the fate of Nakhchivan, an isolated territory on Turkey’s eastern border, according to an Ankara-based think tank.

Nakhchivan is an autonomous region of the Republic of Azerbaijan geographically separated from the motherland and surrounded by Armenia.

“As a gesture of goodwill, Armenia could lift the blockade on Nakhchivan and allow the restoration of its north-south and east-west connections,” said senior foreign policy analyst Burcu Gültekin Punsmann in a written policy proposal developed for the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, or TEPAV.

“This would be a considerable confidence-building measure for the settlement of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,” she said.

Nakhchivan, the former “Gate of the Orient,” is at the crossroads of the east-west and north-south railway connections. In the 17th century, traveler Evliya Çelebi described the city bordered by Iran, Armenia and Turkey as one of the wonders of the world. Since 1993 a ceasefire line has surrounded Nakhchivan and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cut its communications off from the rest of Azerbaijan.

“The rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia will somehow create a domino effect with positive implications, from the lifting of the blockade on Nakhchivan, to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,” Punsmann told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. “But if the process is stalled, then the whole chain will be negatively affected.”

Nakhchivan is blockaded by Armenia on its west, north and east sides. All land links with Azerbaijan are also blocked. Flights between Nakhchivan and Baku are the only remaining direct link.

“Even at the worst times in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s, Nakhchivan was able to protect its territorial integrity. That can be linked with its proximity to Turkey and the guarantees provided by Turkey. Armenian troops stopped on the border of Nakhchivan during the war,” said Punsmann.

Asked if the Armenian gesture of lifting the blockade on the autonomous region depends on the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, she said it would be inaccurate to put forth preconditions to take any step but “such a development could be seen in the context of the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.”

Dilucu border gate may become trade hub

In the policy proposal, Punsmann highlighted that if Yerevan lifted its blockade on the landlocked region, the reopening of east-west communications would boost the activities of the Turkish-Azerbaijani border gate of Dilucu.

Turkey’s Iğdır province is located 85 kilometers from the border post with Nakhchivan and 35 kilometers from the border with Armenia. The Dilucu border gate, commonly known as Hasret Kapısı, opened in 1992 and a bridge built over the River Araxes links Turkey to Nakhchivan.

“Unlocking Nakhchivan will transform the Turkish-Azerbaijani border gate of Dilucu into a trade center,” said Punsmann. “Dilucu can be a meeting place for people from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran and Turkey.”

Plans are also under way to extend the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad to Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan is negotiating with Turkey to construct a branch line from the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. The branch will run to Iğdır and further to Nakhchivan. Other new railroad projects entirely bypass the enclave.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News
URL: www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=domino-effect-of-turkey-armenia-warmth-to-coat-gate-of-orient-says-analyst-2009-11-16

Posted by admin November 2009

Post A Comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website