Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD Student in International Relations, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Professor, Faculty of International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tehran, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
The Turkey-Armenia conflict, as one of the longest-running conflicts of the current century, has its roots in territorial and identity factors. The nature of the conflict, the presence of multiple actors, the conflicting interests of the actors, and the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries have made it dramatically difficult to find a solution for resolving it. Hence, Track Two Diplomacy projects were applied in resolving the aforementioned conflict, on one hand due to their application in removing mental barriers in identity conflicts and on the other hand due to the closure of the formal negotiation. The most important Track Two Diplomacy project in terms of removing the taboo of communication between Turkish and Armenian civil societies was Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission. The Commission was set up in 2001 with the aim of creating a platform for the two sides to discuss the main conflicting issues and, as a result, to increase the level of relations between the two countries, but due to weaknesses in the plan of the project it came to a halt in 2004 with little achievement. The present article examines the strengths and weaknesses of this project using the Multi-layer Model of Assessing Track Two Diplomacy and examines why this activity has not succeeded in creating the necessary factors for achieving lasting peace. In this regard, the degree of observance of the basic principles of Track Two Diplomacy, the extent of achievement based on the defined goals and roles in the political, social and historical environment governing the conflict is measured qualitatively.
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