Turkish Journalist Blames Azerbaijan for Stalling Yerevan-Ankara Normalization

ANKARA — Barçın Yinanç, a Turkish journalist who participated in a media tour in Armenia, described the trip and the opportunity to interview Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as a historic event.

Speaking in an interview aired on T24, Yinanç shared her impressions of the visit, describing Pashinyan’s policies as “breaking taboos.”

She emphasized that Azerbaijan plays a significant role in the lack of progress in Armenia-Turkey normalization. According to Yinanç, the Armenian Prime Minister has been promoting the “Real Armenia” concept, sending messages to both domestic and Turkish audiences.

She noted that Pashinyan’s administration continuously takes steps toward normalization with Turkey and Azerbaijan. However, she observed significant disappointment in Armenia over the lack of tangible results in this process.

Yinanç criticized Ankara’s approach to normalization with Armenia, calling Turkish claims that a country of just three million people could pose territorial threats an “exaggeration.”

She argued that opening the borders would boost trade and tourism in border regions.

“Azerbaijan demands that Turkey refrain from taking even the slightest step toward normalization until a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan is signed. As a result, Azerbaijan has been acting from a position of power in its relations with Armenia, continuously imposing new demands. Armenian officials argue that Azerbaijan’s role in blocking Turkey-Armenia relations actually complicates the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process,” Yinanç stated, according to Ermenihaber.

She added that Armenian leaders, including the country’s first President, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, had expected reciprocal gestures in response to their diplomatic efforts. She criticized Turkey’s silence in response to Ter-Petrosyan’s outreach, calling it a mistake.

Yinanç suggested that implementing the 2022 agreement to open the land border for citizens of third countries could serve as a meaningful gesture. She described Turkey’s failure to implement this agreement as unreasonable.

Regarding Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks, Yinanç said Baku is pursuing maximalist goals, claiming that Azerbaijan is demanding constitutional changes in Armenia as a precondition for signing a peace treaty.

She further noted that the peace process is hindered by Azerbaijan’s insistence on securing an extraterritorial corridor through Armenia to Nakhchivan, while Armenia opposes this move as it would compromise its sovereignty.

Finally, she characterized Prime Minister Pashinyan’s approach to Turkey-Armenia normalization and Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks as one of “strategic patience,” highlighting that he is advancing cautiously, avoiding disruptions, and making proposals in response to every new demand.