1
1. Introduction
Armenian–Turkish relations have been strained by a number of historical
and political issues and the current status of this relations can traced back to
the last moments of the Ottoman Empire and to be more specific to the
massacres on the Armenians living in this empire.
According to available historical records and depending on the point of view,
between 1915 and 1923, more between 300.000 and more than one million
Armenians were killed by the Ottoman authorities. In the last years Armenia
and its diaspora has campaigned heavily for international recognition of the
killings. The modern Turkish state, the successor states of the Ottoman
Empire, has repeatedly and heavily refused to acknowledge the Armenian
interpretation of events. The Turkish government insists that the
circumstances and the actually happening in this period of time were
different and less horrific than the Armenian version is telling.
Most recently the bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey took
another serious nosedive in the wake of the war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan at the beginning of the 1990s. As a loyal supporter of the
Azerbaijan Turkey froze its diplomatic relations with Armenia and closed its
common border. These two historical events and their consequences strain
the relationship between the two neighboring states, which still have no
formal diplomatic relation and Recent attempts of the international
community to normalize the relations failed.
In this submitted term paper the historical development of the relationship
between Armenia and Turkey supposed to be shown, whereas a special
emphasis is put on the massacre on the Armenians in 1914/1915 and the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. These two events play a crucial and decisive
key role in Turkish-Armenian relations and are therefore considered
separately. Subsequently the development of the modern relation since the
year 2000 is to be analyzed to give an answer to the question, whether the
bilateral relations can be normalized and a diplomatic relation can be
installed in the near future.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical development of the Relations
2.1 "Armenian genocide" or "The massacre on the Armenians"
2.2 Armenian’s independence and the Nagorno-Karabakh War
3. Recent developments in the bilateral relations
3.1 The raise of the AKP and the new hope for an approach
3.2 The assassination of Hrant Dink and
3.3 Negotiations for the normalisation of diplomatic ties
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the historical evolution of relations between Armenia and Turkey, focusing specifically on the impact of the massacres of 1914/1915 and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It analyzes the developments since the year 2000 to determine the feasibility of normalizing bilateral relations and establishing formal diplomatic ties in the near future.
- Historical roots of Turkish-Armenian strain
- Impact of the 1914/1915 massacres on contemporary relations
- Consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
- Shifts in foreign policy under the AKP government
- Challenges and prospects for diplomatic normalization
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 "Armenian genocide" or "The massacre on the Armenians"
On 14 November 1914 the Ottoman Empire joined in the First World War on the side of the Central Powers against the Entente which included Russia. Motivated by the re-conquest of those territories lost in previous wars against Russia, but even more by Turkic ideas, the Turkish leadership ordered the end of 1914 a large-scale offensive in the Caucasus. This ended in the Battle of Sarıkamış at the turn of 1914/15 with a devastating defeat of the Ottoman Empire and territorial losses during the Russian counter-offensive.
The fact that Armenians had supported the Russian army in the hope of independence and participated on the Russian side reinforced within the Young Turk leadership "the caricature of an alleged Armenian sabotage plan”. Although the Armenian civilians and serving soldiers in the Ottoman army had remained largely loyal to the governance of the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians now were made collectively responsible for the military problems in eastern Anatolia. In the period from mid-March to early April 1915 the conditions for the upcoming events have been created. The first step was the disarming of Armenian soldiers of the Ottoman armies, of which some were subsequently killed or partly were summarized in labor battalions. Shortly after the execution of several of these battalions followed. Before the installation of the actual deportation law of 27 May 1915 there were first deportations in Anatolia in February and April, but had not the target of scheduled destruction. In this context is not entirely clear, when finally the decision was made to run the deportations so that they had
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the strained historical and political relations between Armenia and Turkey, setting the stage for an analysis of the primary conflicts that hinder normalization.
2. Historical development of the Relations: This section investigates the traumatic legacy of the 1915 events and the territorial impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on bilateral diplomacy.
3. Recent developments in the bilateral relations: This chapter evaluates the political shifts following the rise of the AKP and the impact of the assassination of Hrant Dink on diplomatic efforts.
4. Conclusion: The concluding section synthesizes the findings, arguing that while normalization is a complex "win-win" scenario, it requires addressing deep-seated historical and geopolitical issues.
Keywords
Armenia, Turkey, Nagorno-Karabakh, Ottoman Empire, Genocide, Normalization, Diplomacy, AKP, Foreign Policy, Caucasus, Conflict Resolution, Bilateral Relations, Deportation, Hrant Dink, Geopolitics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the historical and political factors that have strained relations between Armenia and Turkey, particularly those originating from the Ottoman era and the later conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
What are the central themes covered?
The central themes include the historical narrative of the 1915 massacres, the impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the AKP's foreign policy approach, and the ongoing attempts to normalize diplomatic relations.
What is the core research question?
The research aims to determine whether bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey can be successfully normalized and if formal diplomatic ties can be established in the near future.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The work employs a historical and political analysis approach, relying on historical records, diplomatic documentation, and expert assessments to evaluate the modern relationship between the two states.
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body details the historical background of the Armenian-Turkish conflict, the geopolitical implications of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, and recent diplomatic initiatives since 2000, including the 2009 accord attempts.
What keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include Armenia, Turkey, Genocide, Nagorno-Karabakh, Diplomatic Normalization, AKP, Foreign Policy, and Historical Memory.
How did the AKP's rise to power affect these relations?
The AKP introduced a "zero problems with the neighbors" policy and strategic depth, which initially created new hope for diplomatic engagement and easing border restrictions for Armenian workers.
What role did the assassination of Hrant Dink play?
The assassination of Hrant Dink in 2007 brought the issue of historical grievances and Turkish-Armenian relations to the forefront, sparking public demonstrations in Turkey and highlighting the sensitivity of the genocide debate.
Why did the diplomatic negotiations in 2009 fail?
Negotiations faltered because Turkey made its ratification of the protocols dependent on a peace deal in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which led Armenia to suspend its own ratification process.
What does the author conclude about the future?
The author concludes that while normalization offers significant economic and geopolitical advantages to both nations, it remains contingent on resolving territorial conflicts and a mutual refurbishment of shared history.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2012, Turkey Armenian Relations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/194876
