Relations between Turkey and Armenia have been developing positively since the 2020 Karabakh War. As it will be remembered, after the war, the two countries appointed special envoys for close contact. Thus, the two countries started to meet directly without intermediaries and without the need for third parties. Likewise, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that they wanted to hold diplomatic talks with Turkey without preconditions. As can be understood, Nikol Pashinyan was making a serious change in Armenia’s foreign policy. This foreign policy consisted of the following: Peace with Azerbaijan, improving relations with Turkey and thus stabilizing the region. As a result, Pashinyan promises the Armenian people prosperity and integration into the Western system.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is conducting a three-pronged public diplomacy in the new process. In this context, he is holding meetings with diaspora Armenians who are likely to disrupt the regional peace and stability process. He clearly explains his new policies to them. Likewise, he informs the Turkish public about the policy he is pursuing. In this context, last month he hosted journalists from Turkey in Yerevan. Similarly, last week he sent Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. Mirzoyan held bilateral meetings with his counterparts, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Pashinyan continues to pursue peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.
Nikol Pashinyan no longer brings the acceptance of the Armenian genocide allegations to the agenda of improving relations with Turkey. He emphasizes that history should not be evaluated with today’s conditions and says that history should not be a source of problems. He also states that they no longer look favorably on the acceptance of genocide allegations in foreign parliaments. And thus, he extends an olive branch to Turkey in the name of peace. With peace, Pashinyan promises his people freedom from regional encirclement. Turkey supports Armenia’s new foreign policy. Turkey is closely following the developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan and is waiting for them to reach a final agreement.
Undoubtedly, this peace process is a difficult and difficult process for Armenia and the Armenian people to digest. Therefore, Pashinyan and his team need time.
In fact, the regional conjuncture is quite favorable for Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to improve their mutual relations. The two states, the biggest supporters of the old status quo in the South Caucasus, are currently preoccupied with their own problems. Russia is dealing with the war in Ukraine. Iran is facing pressure from Israel and the United States. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia should make the most of this conjuncture. It would also be appropriate for the US and EU officials to encourage Armenia in this process.
In short, Nikol Pashinyan wants to open his country to the West and integrate it into the Western system. To this end, he abandons the traditional Armenian foreign policy and believes that Armenia’s future cannot be bright if it is aligned with Russia and Iran. He is well aware of the fact that the way to the prosperity of the Armenian people and Armenia’s opening to the West is through Turkey. He believes that an Armenia that has solved its problems with Azerbaijan and Turkey will prosper over time. And he promises his people prosperity along with regional stability and peace.
