Cyprus-Forum.com

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Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit this week to Russia. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Leaders’ official visits to other countries rarely yield concrete, immediate results. Taking certain decisions to strengthen economic ties and opening a Turkish Trade Center in the middle of Moscow are among the positive results of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit this week to Russia. The actual successes of the visit are the steps taken towards strategic partnership. During meetings in Moscow, both sides showed a new stance not only over bilateral relations, but also regional issues. Russia’s stance on the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s relations with the EU are concrete examples of this. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements about Cyprus signalled a move away from Russia’s support for the Greek Cypriot administration. Russia has now agreed to support UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan’s plan and will also help lift the blockade on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This is a truly important shift in Moscow’s Cyprus policy in favor of Turkey. Similarly, Putin stated that he was glad about Turkey’s integration with the EU, which is another important development. During his visit to Ankara last month, Putin warned that such integration posed a serious obstacle to Turkish-Russian relations. Now, instead, he says it will open new horizons.

Putin’s statements on Armenia also signal possible strategic cooperation between Ankara and Moscow on regional problems. Concerning the Upper Karabagh issue, Putin said that Russia might serve as a mediator and even a guarantor and that he would help Turkey to forge friendly relations with Armenia. Erdogan doesn’t want strained relations with Turkey’s neighbors and thinks that our policy in the region is geared towards solutions. Of course Yerevan should make positive signals towards this end, then Turkey will be able to normalize relations. During the meetings in Moscow, it’s significant that the Armenian issue was also on the agenda. Ankara has stipulated up to now that firstly Yerevan should withdraw from the Azerbaijani territory it’s occupying and solve its disputes with Baku in order for Turkey to normalize its relations with Armenia. The reasons for this stance can be understood easily. However, Turkey was unable to play a mediator role because of this. Now Russia seems ready to step in. However, if Turkey can establish a good dialogue with Yerevan, it can help create a consensus between the parties and push claims of a so-called Armenian genocide from the agenda. Now the Armenian diaspora is about to try to take the initiative over the 90th anniversary of the ‘genocide.’ It’s time for Ankara to step forward now with a bold stance. This can be done in cooperation with Russia, in light of Putin’s statements.”