TURKISH DIPLOMAT: "WE HAVE THREE MAIN DEMANDS FROM ARMENIA"

Azeri Press Agency
June 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Ankara. Mayis Alizadeh-APA. "One of the problems with Armenia is that
Armenia doesn’t recognize territorial integrity of our country. Armenia
claimed the territory of Turkey in its declaration of independence
in 1991.

Although Kars treatment signed in 1920 is in force today. Kars
treatment defined the border lines and Armenians should recognize it",
Omar Lutem, retired ambassador and chief of the Armenian studies
office of the Eurasian Strategic Research Center told APA Turkish
bureau. Touching upon the US Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried’s call on
Armenia to recognize Turkey’s borders, the former diplomat said it was
very important step. "Armenia pays no heed to the Turkey’s demand for
a long time. Now US high-ranking officials raise this issue. I believe
Armenia will be forced to listen to it". Responding the question about
the US and Europe’s regular calls on Turkey to open the borders with
Armenia and their current call on Armenia to make step, Lutem said:
"US makes efforts to solve the Armenian-Turkish issue for a long
time and to achieve long-term peace in the Caucasus. It is not a
new policy. Daniel Fried’s address shows that Americans will take
more interest in this issue in future. It shows that the West will
increase pressure on Armenia in the near future. Turkish diplomacy
put the issue of recognition of the Turkey’s territorial integrity
on agenda during all discussions related to Armenia and runs Armenia
into difficulties. They know well our efforts made over the past 17
years. Fried made very important statement at the Congress". The former
ambassador said Turkey had 3 main problems with Armenia: "Recognition
of Turkey’s territorial integrity, giving up the false "genocide"
claims and solution of Karabakh problem. We mean the liberation of 7
regions nearby Nagorno Karabakh and the solution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We will never
change our demands".