TURKEY INSISTS ON PRECONDITIONS

Yerkir
29.06.2007 15:45

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Turkey maintains its negative position in
establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian told a news conference today.

Oskanian, who was participating in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
in Istanbul, met Turkish FM Abdullah Gul on 25 June to discuss the
lack of diplomatic relations between and the Karabakh issue.

"There is no process to improve the relations and the prospects are
not positive because Turkey’s preconditions remain. I have reaffirmed
our position to develop relations without preconditions and to open
the border as a first step," Oskanian said. He added he had presented
Armenia’s stance on the Karabakh settlement issue to Turkey to make
a fair conclusion.

Taking a question whether the Kosovo precedent can be used, he said
that any conflict has its value and they should be viewed taking into
account their specifics as well as historical and legal background.

"All this should be taken into account, and discussing everything
together may have negative consequences. We do not consider Kosovo
a precedent for us because we don’t know what will happen. Karabakh
is unique in its way to self-determination and this process is
irreversible, and we will reach a final victory. It has been achieved
de facto, and the task is to reach a de jure recognition through
talks," he said.