Experts appraised this challenge of the Pope as an expression of Christian solidarity rather than principles of humanism. The politicians, who shared their opinions to APA, did not consider Pope’s statement accidental.
Deputy executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, MP Siyavush Novruzov told APA that all of this is a part of preparation on the 100th anniversary of so-called “Armenian genocide” to be marked next year: “In this regard, Armenians began to make a fuss. This process is supported by not only Armenia, but serious powers such as Armenian lobby, Christian circles”.
Novruzov said Turkish-Armenian borders were closed due to the occupation of Kalbajar in 1993.
“Have Kalbajar or other regions been liberated today that opening of borders is on the agenda? Therefore, though opening of the borders is come up repeatedly, Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in their statements, speeches, interviews, meetings that the borders will not be opened unless the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is ensured. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey also made statement in this regard. Turkish people will not agree to open the borders until the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflicts, liberation of our territories. Even if a contract is signed, it must be ratified by the Turkish parliament. Of course, Turkish political parties and MPs will protest it. Statements, events are needed to check the reaction of the society,” he noted.
The YAP official said Pope's statement isn’t accidental either. He said that the Roman Catholic Church had have mechanisms to influence world politics since ancient times: “The Pope’s involvement in this issue, the U.S. Secretary of State's visit to Turkey are remarkable. By the way, at certain times, Azerbaijan was proposed to restore ties with Armenia in exchange for liberation of a region or several regions, attempts were made to open border with Armenia with the support of the Turkish community. U.S. President Barack Obama also spoke about the opening of borders during his visit to Turkey. All these people are determining the world policy. Despite the great power of the Pope, this is a serious and fundamental issue between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Regardless of what some people say, Turkey will never deteriorate the relations with Azerbaijan.”
Chairman of Azerbaijani United People's Front Party, MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev said Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II spoke about his meeting with Pope Francis at the meeting with the Armenians living in his country a while ago and recalled Pope’s statements: “You and Armenia is an oasis within the Muslim world. Therefore, for the sake of the Christian religion, you have to support each other and be together.” Unfortunately, the religious leaders and politicians of the Islamic world refused to respond to this statement. To my mind, this example is enough to understand what position Pope Francis takes.”
Hasanguliyev said one of the main factors for the international community taking injustice position regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is related with the fact that the occupier is a representative of the Christian religion and the victim of occupation – a representative of the Islamic world: “We should always take this factor into consideration. Pope’s statement is another evidence of this factor to which the international community attaches great importance.”
The MP said the Pope’s statement was not accidental and should be condemned.
“If the Pope demanded to put an end to the occupation and restore the violated rights of over a million people, it would have been more humane and consistent with its position. The Pope should call on his followers not to take revenge and violate human rights,” he noted.
MP Zahid Oruj also does not believe what is happening by chance. He does not regard the proposal of Pope Francis in connection with the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia as no surprise. According to him, all details are considered in statements after this kind of important meetings.
“The process of establishing relations between Armenia and Turkey is an important international project, it was suspended as a result of the Azerbaijan’s intervention after the signing of the Zurich protocols. Significant forces are trying to revive the process in any way,” he said.
He stressed that Vatican is not only a religious center, but plays an important role in world politics.
“Vatican has played the role of nuclear power in confidential part of secular politics. If they want the Catholic world to be involved in the Turkish-Armenian relations at all means, then there are serious doctrines and plans in the lower layer. Therefore, the Pope's statement should not be regarded as an ordinary matter”, he said.
Chairman of Great Establishment Party (GEP), MP Fazil Mustafa said that the Pope’s initiative of humanistic nature firstly should be related with the call for Armenia to withdraw from the occupied territories. “As the Pope, he should firstly urge Armenia to stop its aggressive policy. As a head of state, the Pope probably has enough information why Turkey closed its border with Armenia. Turkey closed its borders due to Armenia’s policy of aggression and terror against Azerbaijan. Therefore, I think that the Pope's views on this issue are biased and unfounded.
Mustafa also mentioned that if the Pope tries to achieve the settlement of relations between Armenia and Turkey, he should start it from the real reason and prevent Armenia’s policy of terror.
“However, neither the Pope, nor Armenia gives up its policy. In this regard, the Pope's statement is a call intended to deliberately present Armenia as poor and unprotected”, he added.
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