Turkey’s ambassador to Baku, Hulusi Kilic, criticized Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov for accusing Turkey of “complicating the Karabakh conflict settlement.”
In an interview with CNN-Turk, Azimov stated: “Having signed the protocols on normalization of relations with Armenia, Ankara has complicated the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. These protocols caused a crisis, precluding progress in Karabakh talks.”
“Azimov’s statement was his personal opinion. Turkey’s policy is powerful. Anyway, I think he was wrong,” Kilic said.
However, ambassador Kilic was himself a bit wrong to think that it was Azimov’s personal opinion. A Deputy Foreign Minister has not right to express personal views in a public interview and any diplomat should be aware of this.
The fraternal relations between the two countries seem to be far from warm, as it’s presented by Turkish and Azerbaijani media. After the June 12 parliamentary election, when there is no longer need in the votes of Turkish Azerbaijanis, the language of Turkish politicians may change. Should Erdogan’s AKP win, he will remind Aliyev of all steps Turkey was forces to take to please “the fraternal state”, including the demolition of the Monument to Humanity in Kars.
Whatever, Turkey’s Prime Minister has read The California Courier publisher Harout Sassounian’s “Who rules Turkey: Edgodan or Aliyev?” editorial. For a politician dreaming of another Ottoman Empire such article is offensive, if not to say more.
