Epress.am News from Armenia
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, during Feb. 18, 2010 meetings in Ankara, appealed to US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William (Bill) Burns to have the Armenia-Turkey Protocols ratification process and the OSCE Minsk Group–mediated process in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict occur simultaneously, according to US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks on Dec. 5.
“Sinirlioglu appealed for ‘simultaneity’ between Armenian Protocols ratification and the Minsk Process. He emphasized ‘a strong reaction’ against the protocols among ruling party MPs had to be overcome before the government would hazard a ratification effort,” reads the cable, in part.
Furthermore, Sinirlioglu noted that the Armenian Genocide resolution up for discussion in the US Congress could complicate matters. “He warned Congressional passage of an Armenian genocide resolution would ‘complicate’ his government’s domestic political calculations regarding ratification. He said if something acceptable to Azerbaijani President Aliyev can found, then ‘we can move’ the protocols forward.”
Thus, the Turkish MFA Undersecretary proposed a framework for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict agreed by both conflicting parties (Armenia and Azerbaijan) would assist Turkey in resolving its political quandary: “Sinirlioglu suggested Azerbaijan and Armenia’s announcement of an agreed framework for Minsk Group progress would provide the GoT [Government of Turkey] with the necessary political cover.”
Burns then inquired about the “prospect for progress on a natural gas deal between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Sinirlioglu implied Aliyev is holding an agreement hostage to Turkey’s handling of the protocols.”
“He doesn’t trust us,” said Sinirlioglu.