Geopolitics for business
Mini workshop

On 6 September 2008 Turkish president Abdullah Gul attended a soccer world cup qualifying match in Armenia.

1- Why was this visit significant?

The history has shown a lot of problems between ethnies in Turkey mainly with Armenian genocide: in 1915 two thirds of Native Armenians in Turkey were deported and exterminated. Turkish government never accepted to recognize its fault as a “genocide”. This visit shows that the Turkish government is however ready to make efforts toward Armenia. The two countries have no diplomatic ties. It was the first time that a Turkish leader went into Armenia since the independency in 1991.

2- Was there more to this story (“footie”) than meets the eye?

The main goal of this meeting is to enhance the diplomatic relations because the two countries do not have diplomatic ties even if they have recognized each other.

3- What was the state of Turkish-Armenian relations in 2008?
They recognized each other but do not have established diplomatic relations.

4- Characterise the geographic situation of these 2 countries. How might this impact on political relations (show on a map)

Turkey and Armenia have common borders so they are neighbours. Turkey is a board crossing area for several countries in order to access to the sea. A long mountain chain is separating the two countries so the exchanges between both countries are insignificant. Bad political relations are settled since the 20th century and the geographical situation is not an advantage.

5- Make a link between the regional geopolitics and the timing of Gul’s visit (September 2008)

An Armenian journalist has been murdered in Istanbul in 2007. Therefore, to interrupt the focus about the genocide, the Turkish president accepted to visit Armenia in order to calm down the relations between the two countries. We can suppose that it is also a measure in order to integrate the European Union as a pacific country.

6- In August- September 2008, which event could have suddenly increased the value of ties with Armenia in Turkish eyes (and vice versa), why?

In September 2008, at the occasion of the football game Turkey-Armenia about the World Cup 2010, Gul accepted the invitation of Armenian president. It is the first time that a Turkish president went in Armenia since the independence.
Investing in a public sector that would have an impact over the economy will indicate that the relations between them has been solved.

7- To what extent has the relationship “normalised” since 2008?

The government changed in Armenia in 2008 and the Turkish one too, Receip Taïp Erdogan is the current president after 11 years as prime minister.
Moreover, Turkey is trying to join European Union since 1999 and they received a “no” in 2005 so the change in their relationships with Armenia for example is one of their efforts in order to be friendlier and to join the Union later.