Armenia and Turkey sign landmark deal

The Globe and Mail ^ | October 10, 2009 | Zurich-Reuters

[Ravnagora]

Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark peace accord on Saturday to restore ties and open their shared border after a century of hostility stemming from the First World War mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces.

But in an indication of the many pitfalls that lie ahead of its implementation, the ceremony was marred by a three-hour delay due to last-minute disagreements on statements, forcing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to engage in intense discussions to salvage a deal.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian signed the Swiss-mediated deal in Zurich at a ceremony also attended by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

The Turkish and Armenian parliaments must now approve the deal in the face of opposition from nationalists on both sides and a Armenian diaspora which insists Turkey acknowledge the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians as genocide.

*****

[2banana]

Ties between the two neighbours are traumatized by the deportations and mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, and normalization efforts have been hampered by a decades-old dispute between Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan and Armenia over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh

Turkey cut ties and shut its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan which was then fighting a losing battle against Armenian separatists in Karabakh.

Turkey = Muslim
Armenia = Christian
Azerbaijan = Muslim

In Nagorno-Karabakh the Armenians refused to be ethnically cleansed and fought back. That is not what infidels are supposed to do so Turkey cut ties and supported their enemy.

[murphE]

Does this mean Obama is going to get another Nobel prize?

[dr_who]

Another development out of left field, but an intriguing one. What is the interest of the US in Turkey-Armenia relations? No mention of it in the article, but does this touch on Georgia ... Russia... “Kurdistan”...oil in Azerbaijan? Kind of refreshing given that most news in that part of the world usually has something to do with into the US butting heads with Russia.

[dr_who]

The fighting over N-K ended over ten years ago, yes?

[Bahbah]

the ceremony was marred by a three-hour delay due to last-minute disagreements on statements, forcing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to engage in intense discussions to salvage a deal.

Hillary couldn't negotiate her way out of a paper bag unless it was filled with money to buy someone off. Truly, the horribleness (forgive the word) of our government at this time could not be worse. The astounding incompetence.

[2banana]

The fighting over N-K ended over ten years ago, yes?

No. Both sides are arming and there are constant border conflicts. Muslim land can never be taken away from muslims - it is in the koran, don't cha know. It will flare again.

[Windcatcher]

Both Armenia and Turkey border Georgia. If I was POTUS, I would be VERY keen on bringing Armenia into NATO.

[dr_who]

My impression was that Armenia was in Russia’s orbit so to speak, and willingly so. And since we’re talking Turkey (literally) and Armenia, I don’t think it’s as simple as muslim-versus-christian and I think it’s a huge leap to think Armenia would side with Georgia the next time Putin attacks them since they apparently were more on Russia’s side during that conflict. You would think that with fewer fights breaking out between these various states, it might give Russia less of an excuse to interfere in the region. So if American diplomacy is helping to clear the air for a change instead of sweeping future conflicts under the rug, good. ...if that’s what the intent of this is.

[dr_who]

Ugh...

[dr_who]

Keep in mind that Bush wanted Georgia in NATO. That would have meant that if Russia attacked Georgia, we would be at war with Russia. And what did Putin do? He marched in, we marched out. Not only that, but he was somewhat successful at placing the blame for that war on Georgia. How did that make the US look? Brinkmanship can’t be the answer for everything.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark peace accord on Saturday to restore ties and open their shared border after a century of hostility

Good!

Does that mean the Armenian diaspora will leave our Congress alone and no more pressuring to get another (!) genocide resolution?

Besides, just how important is that word?

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey is a secondary issue – interview with Harut Sassounian

"the admission of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey is an issue of secondary importance for us . . . our true demand is compensation for this injustice."

Then stop bothering our Congress for another(!) genocide resolution, we have enough problems!

Go home and fight the battles.. we're kinda busy here with those pesky existential thingies.

Besides, "President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation designating the events of 1915 as Genocide . . . the US Congress has approved the aforementioned resolution twice, the adoption of the resolution for the third time is of little importance. The Armenian Genocide has already been recognized and the resolution will not add anything new."

[Jemian]

As an Armenian whose grandfather escaped in the middle of the middle of the night, I can never forget what the Turks did. My first emotion at reading this news is outrage.

[Jemian]

I have no intention of leaving the land of my birth. Thank you very much.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

If you are going to argue for Armenian demands against Turkey IMO it is not too much to ask that the United States of America be left out of it.

Besides as noted above the U.S. has already provided resolutions, and such.

BTW, I'm thinking of the efforts to get another resolution just a couple of years ago. The linked article (above in my first reply) talks about it. I hope that ended it.