Armenian-Turkish Relations:
From Interstate Dispute to Neighborliness
Background.
The present project is dedicated to research into the interstate relations
between Turkey and Armenia in the past decade. It will address the ways and
possibilities of overcoming the conflictual situation prevailing between them.
The author’s interest in the problem of Armenian-Turkish relations stems from
his professional activity as a head of the Turkish department in the Institute
of Oriental Studies at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences - the leading
center for Turkish Studies of the country - and as Associated Professor at
Yerevan State University, teaching the history of Turkey and history of
Armenian-Turkish relations.
My interest in this topic also stems from my work as an analyst and
politologist for the higher authorities of the Armenian government between 1991
and 1996. Thus, for many years I was the Deputy Director of the Department of
Political Analysis at the office of the first President of Armenia Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. In that capacity, this applicant took part in the elaboration
and implementation of Armenia’s policy towards Turkey.
I have evaluated certain aspects of Armenian-Turkish relations in some
publications, reports at scientific conferences and workshops, and in public
lectures given in Denmark, Holland, Great Britain, Germany, Turkey, Armenia and
USA. During my stay in the USA as a Fulbright scholar I carried out the
research project “Between Historical Memory and Geopolitics: Armenian-Turkish
Relations”, dedicated to research into history and present of relations between
both countries.
The suggested project will be thus based on both pure scientific exploration
and practical experience gained by the author during his involvement in the
process of policy-making and in analytical and diplomatic work.
This problem has never been a special subject of monographic research either in
Armenia or Turkey, or in any other country. Only certain aspects —those
connected with the Karabakh conflict—have been considered in a number of
articles and chapters of books.
Objectives
The author of the present project has defined the following scientific
objectives:
q To expose the inner
logic and dynamics of the evolution of interstate relations between Turkey and
Armenia in the 1990s and to periodize them.
q To define and classify the factors effecting and affecting
these relations.
q To explore the cluster of new factors that emerged after
the September 11, 2001 and to assess the ways in which they had an impact on
the present state of Armenian-Turkish relations and their future.
q Based on this analysis of the turn taken by
Armenian-Turkish relations in the 1990s, the most likely scenarios of their
evolution at the beginning of 21st century will be analyzed.
The realization of the above objectives will enable the author to reach the major
goal of his project:
To write a nonpartisan report based on primary material and scientific
analysis, the contents of which might be used in practice with the aim of
improving Armenian-Turkish relations.
Methodology.
It is supposed that the final product of the project will be the scientific
monograph of 6-7 printer’s sheet volume. Its sources will be the relevant
literature in the Armenian, Turkish, Russian, German, and English languages.
The applicant’s basic approach to the problem of Armenia-Turkish relations and
therefore to the project stem from the idea that the problem of
Armenian-Turkish interstate relations must be considered not in isolation but
in the context of their following peculiarities:
q Historical experience in mutual relations between the two
nations.
q Perception of this problem on the part of major political
and public circles of both countries.
q Influence of external factors of a political and
geopolitical nature, especially of the Armenian Diaspora and the process of
Karabakh conflict settlement, on creating the system of regional security and
cooperation.
Positive improvements in the relationships between both countries are possible
if a number of conditions are fulfilled:
q If democratic processes in both countries are further
developed and strengthened in both countries and if, a more tolerant political
culture gradually emerges.
q If the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict is
intensified and leads to a system of regional security and cooperation.
The result of my fellowship will be a monograph consisting of five chapters.
In chapter 1, entitled “Historical and Political Background,” I will consider
the basic reasons for distrust between the Turkish and Armenian peoples.
These reasons stem from the tragic historical events that occurred at the turn
of the century. The main points of contradiction of a historical nature will be
outlined. In this chapter will be analyzed also the approaches of main
political parties and public forces of Armenia and Turkey to the problems of
Armenia - Turkish relations.
Chapter 2, “Relations between Armenia and Turkey during Past Decade” is devoted
to an analysis of Armenian-Turkish relations from the end of 1980s until to
2001. I will consider the developments, such as the weakening and
collapse of the USSR, the appearance of independent states in the southern
Caucasus, including Armenia, the policy of Turkey toward the newly emerged
states and Armenia in particular. The special attention will be paid to such
problems as the impact of the Karabakh conflict and the genocide issue on the
process of Armenian-Turkish relations.
In chapter 3, “External Factors,” other factors influencing
Armenian-Turkish relations will be considered, particularly the role of the
Armenian Diaspora, the USA and Russia.
In chapter 4, “Turning Point” will be analyzed the impact of tragic events of
September 11, 2001 on the situation in the South Caucasus as a whole and on the
Armenian-Turkish relations in particular. The radical geopolitical shift and
emergence of new political phenomenon, such as joining all the South Caucasian
countries and Turkey to an anti-terrorist coalition under leadership of USA
will be underlined.
Chapter 5, entitled “Perspectives,” will be devoted to an analysis of possible
scenarios related to Armenian-Turkish relations at the beginning of 21st
century. I will also deal with ways and methods of overcoming the existing
negative factors in these relations and creating conditions for their evolution
in the favorable direction. Particularly, I would like to consider the
launching such Track Two Diplomacy processes, as Permanent Turkish-Armenian
Forum, consisting from the representatives of general public, and Program of
Cooperative Economic Development.
Significance.
The proposed project has both scientific and political significance, for the
complex nexus of Armenian-Turkish relations now will be considered as a whole.
The project has also both practical and theoretical significance concerning
conflict resolution between two neighboring peoples and states. As such, it
will contribute some knowledge that might be used to promote and enhance
regional stability and cooperation.
For both Turkey and Armenia the project has also of important practical
significance, for its conclusions can be applied in the sphere of policy-making
with the aim of improving bilateral
relations.
Evaluation and Dissemination.
The author intends to publish the present research in the form of monograph.
Regarding the provisions and conclusions of the present project, the author
will disseminate the findings of his research on Armenian-Turkish relations at
international scientific conferences and in publications in the mass media.
The factually based material and the conclusions of the project will be used by
the author in his lectures on the history of Armenian-Turkish relations at the
department of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State University.
The main provisions and conclusions will shortly be submitted to the high authorities
of Armenia and to the high-ranking officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in
the form of policy papers.
The scientific results achieved in the course of the present project will be
used by the author in his expert assessments on separate aspects of
Armenian-Turkish relations as the coordinator of a group of experts on problems
of Armenian-Turkish relations at Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of
Armenia.
Justification for visit to the Turkey for the Proposed Project.
The necessity of the two five-week visits to the Turkey for implementing the
present project is conditioned by the following circumstances:
Discussing with Turkish colleagues the problems of Armenian- Turkish relations
in general and in the last decade in particular; getting familiarized with the
interpretations of those relations in Turkish scientific and political
communities, which is very essential to refine and perhaps broaden the author’s
perspective and position with regard to this complex, often emotionally charged,
topic.
Getting access to the latest Turkish scientific literature, especially in
journals, pertaining to Armenian-Turkish relations and more generally to
theoretical issues (problems of nationalism, formation of national identity,
collective memory, international relations in the age of globalization,
conflict management and resolution, etc.), which are not available in the
libraries of Armenia.
My visit to the Turkey will be used also to establish scientific contacts with
Turkish colleagues.
Plan for fulfillment.
The author intends to carry his one-year (March 2003-March 2004) work on the
present project according the following schedule:
1st–11th weeks (Armenia): collection of factually based material, compiling the
detailed research plan.
12th-16th weeks (Turkey): collection of lacking factually based material, being
familiarized with the latest relevant literature, discussions with Turkish
colleagues.
17th-30th weeks (Armenia): accounting of the subject and writing the first
draft of the monograph.
31st- 35th weeks (Turkey): discussing the first draft of the monograph with
Turkish colleagues.
36th-50th weeks (Armenia): working on the final version of the monograph and
preparing it for publication.