GAZETE FORMATINDA GÖRMEK İÇİN TIKLAYIN

Turkey has been in complete support of Azerbaijan, the injured party, since the beginning of the dispute as a result of the close ties of friendship and brotherhood between our peoples. Turkey exerted efforts for the resolution of the issue in a peaceful manner respectful of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and has determinedly advocated the rightful case of the Azerbaijani people together with Azerbaijan in various bilateral and multilateral forums. Moreover, the aim of the peace initiative we recently began in the South Caucasus is to create an environment conducive to resolving the political conflicts in the region, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, to save the South Caucasus from the reign of pain, conflict and disputes by seeing the end of the occupation of Azerbaijan and to create an environment and climate where peace, security, dialogue and cooperation reign. We believe in and take pleasure from the fact that efforts made by Turkey in good faith and in the hope of attaining comprehensive peace in the South Caucasus are factors in the revitalization of the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts toward the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

The way to preventing the repetition of painful past experiences goes through awareness. On the one hand, this awareness will ensure the equitable resolution of disputes in accordance with the parties’ expectations. On the other hand, awareness will prevent similar tragedies. Exhibitions such as this one which showcase events and truths in an objective manner and prevent them from being forgotten are especially important.

The expression of public response and indignation in a lasting and concrete manner such as this exhibition, using printed and visual media as well as a vocal element to give the public response a lasting effect, will also contribute to expressing public censure in a more definitive manner. Public responses are gaining more and more weight and effect in international relations. Our people express their reaction to the aggression toward Azerbaijan at every opportunity. This is well known in our country and in the international arena.

We must go beyond emotional responses and document the violations of international law in a historical and legal context with concrete and objective data and thus keep the issue in focus by imprinting the suffering experienced as a result of said violations to the historical memory of humanity. We expect that our efforts will not be in vain and the international community will show the necessary reaction.

Today, the message that Turkey and Azerbaijan would like to give to the international community, and especially our neighbors, is this: It is time to take steps to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. This is the expectation of both Azerbaijan, which has made bona fides efforts to resolve the issue in its rightful case, and Turkey, which has given Armenia an out from the dead end it has trapped itself in. We are motivated with the dream of achieving a future in which the South Caucasus has left behind its conflicts to be replaced by peace, dialogue, conciliation and cooperation. We are trying to fulfill the requirements of a responsible state by preventing the repetition of past tragedies. Answering these steps with good faith, taking steps toward a future shaped by peace, security and stability by putting an end to the occupation is at the discretion of the occupying state. Turkey and Azerbaijan, which are putting forth their will toward resolving present issues, with time will surely be proven right in the eyes of history.

Turkey will continue to stand beside Azerbaijan in good days and bad with the understanding that “the joy of the Azerbaijani people is the joy of the Turkish people; the sorrow of the Azerbaijani people is the sorrow of the Turkish people.” The Turkish-Azerbaijani relationship has become even stronger in every field from politics to economy, energy to transportation and culture and will continue to be an example to the South Caucasus.

The “two states, one nation” expression frequently used to emphasize the Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship is not for naught. Turkey deeply feels the sorrows of Azerbaijan. Turkey perceives Azerbaijan’s problems as its own and exerts and will continue to exert every effort to resolve them.

02.03.2010 Op-Ed

*Associate Professor Cüneyt Yüksel is a member of Parliament and the vice president of political and legal affairs for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).