Expert: Armenian-Azerbaijani relations take precedence over Armenian-Turkish ties

The Azerbaijani political analyst, the director of the South Caucasus Research Centre, Farhad Mammadov, has commented on the interview of the US ambassador to Armenia with the Armenian news service Radio Liberty on his Telegram channel.

Touching upon certain points, he shared his views on the process of reconciliation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

"Putting the cart before the horse... an afterword to the interview of the US ambassador to Armenia on the US position. US Ambassador Lyn Tracy, in her interview about US Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken's talks with the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, actually acknowledged the presence of an interplay between Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation. This is already a big plus! Previously, the United States refused to hear about interdependence and clashed with Türkiye on this issue...

However, this sentence gives ground to say that the US is positioned toward Armenia: 'The details need to be worked out, and I think that this is where we will continue to encourage both Armenia and Türkiye to move forward and see that the progress made here can in ultimately make a positive contribution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani discussions,’ the ambassador said.

That is, progress in the Armenian-Turkish normalisation creates conditions for the normalisation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani... The Armenian-Turkish normalisation is primary...

But the history of complications in Armenian-Turkish relations demonstrates that the reason lies in the occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan by Armenia. This means that Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are primary, and not vice versa!

The US should contribute to the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan to remove the cause of the aggravation of Armenian-Turkish relations. And who gives guarantees that Armenia's position will change in the track with Azerbaijan after Iravan [Yerevan] gets an open border with Türkiye?!

We already went through this in 2009 and then Baku's answer was categorical! And now, Türkiye, represented by President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, openly expressed the opinion that the demands from Armenia are clear and obvious. Only after fulfilling the requirements in the Armenian-Azerbaijani track, it is possible to progress on the Armenian-Turkish track.

The symbolic decisions at the last meeting of the personal representatives of the leaders of Türkiye and Armenia are an advance and a demonstration that normalisation is possible.

If the United States wants to have a role in the region, then it must accept the realities and move with the interests of Azerbaijan and Türkiye in mind, and not change the established trends. Do you want to help Armenia? Explain to them the truth that you need to negotiate with your neighbours. The US somehow left aside the obvious recognition of Armenia about the occupation policy after the Armenian Security Council secretary's statement on the withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from Karabakh...

Otherwise, Azerbaijan can resolve issues unilaterally, and the Armenian-Turkish normalisation will remain in limbo," Mammadov wrote.