ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMENTED ON THE REFUSAL TO GRANT VISAS TO THE TURKISH OBSERVERS
Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 10 2007
Yerevan, May 10. /Mediamax/. Spokesman of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
Vladimir Karapetian described as "a bit disingenuous" the initiative
of Turkey to send observers for the parliamentary elections in Armenia.
Mediamax reports that Vladimir Karapetian said this, commenting on the
refusal of the official Yerevan to grant visas to eight representatives
of Turkey, who were going to observe the parliamentary elections in
Armenia on May 12 within the OSCE Mission.
"Turkey maintains a closed border with Armenia and refuses to establish
diplomatic relations. Under these circumstances, to expect to send
observers is a bit disingenuous", Vladimir Karapetian stated.
According to him, "Armenia regrets that Turkey did not demonstrate
sensitivity in relation to its citizens-representatives participating
in the OSCE observer mission to Armenia, given the absence of relations
between our two countries".
"Turkey cannot choose and select which kinds of political relations
it wishes to have with Armenia, and which it does not wish to have.
Political and diplomatic relations are not entered into selectively",
Vladimir Karapetian stated.
"Armenia understands the concern of OSCE members regarding Armenia’s
OSCE commitments, and reaffirms that we remain faithful to those
commitments. But we expect that participating states will also expect
Turkey to adhere to its commitments to engage in normal, neighborly
relations with Armenia", the official representative of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry stated.