ArmenPress
Dec 1 2004

TWO ARMENIAN MPs MEET WITH TURKISH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Two members of the Armenian
parliament met with the chairman of the Turkish parliament when they
were attending a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
in Turkish Antalya on November 23-25.
Vladimir Badalian and Mekhak Mkhitarian, the two Armenian
lawmakers, said today in Yerevan the 30-minute meeting had been
initiated by Bullent Arinc, the chairman of Turkish parliament, who
spoke about the obstacles preventing the opening of the border with
Armenia and lifting its decade-long blockade.
The Armenians quoted Arinc as saying that he regretted the tragic
events that had occurred at the beginning of the 20-th century but
disagreed with Armenians’ classification that it was a genocide. He
said Armenians use the term excessively to portray it in a manner
that suits their interests, which cannot be accepted by Turkey.
Another obstacle preventing normalization of ties with Armenia,
according to Bullent Arinc is Armenia’s unwillingness to pull out its
troops from the occupied Azeri regions. Incidentally, he accused the
OSCE Minsk group chairmen of inactivity, adding also that Turkey
stands ready to get involved in the Karabagh conflict regulation
process.
Arinc said Turkey wants friendly and warm relations with all its
neighbors, including also Armenia, which was hailed by Armenian
lawmakers, who said Armenia too is interested in such relations.
Vladimir Badalian said they argued that prior to normalization of
relations both countries should establish diplomatic relations. They
also disagreed with Arinc’s arguments that the OSCE Minsk group has
failed to carry out its mission, saying they could not see any other
international peace brokers that could work more effectively.
Armenians also argued that the return of Azerbaijani territories
could not be put forth as a precondition for normalization of ties,
emphasizing the importance of all-level contacts between
representatives of the two nations. They also said that though the
international recognition of the genocide is on the agenda of
Armenia’s foreign policy Yerevan does not make its recognition by
Turkey as a condition for normal ties, adding also that in general
Armenia is not against Turkey’s EU membership.