The Impasse in Turkish - Armenian Relations
Turkish foreign policy has been undergoing a process of transformation since the end of the Cold War. However, each transformation period comes with new crises and advantages that should be assessed carefully. Turkey has been trying tackle these challenges by pursuing a proactive foreign policy since the end of 1990s. In this respect, the “zero-problem” concept, introduced to Turkish foreign policy by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, has been effective in overcoming certain chronic problems with its neighbors and creating a better environment to stimulate regional partnerships. In the Caucasus, particularly good relations with Azerbaijan beginning in the 1990s have turned into a regional integration process, with Georgia’s enthusiastic participation in the 2000s. The South Caucasus has become a transit zone for trade, energy products, and transportation. However, compared to Turkey’s cooperation with the Middle East, the dynamism in the Caucasus is limited. One of the main reasons is ...