POSITIVE STEPS SHOULD NOT FALL VICTIM TO ARMENIAN DIASPORA: TURKISH PM

Hurriyet
Jan 29 2009
Turkey

It would be a shame for the positive steps taken by both Armenia and
Turkey fall victim to the efforts of Armenian diaspora, Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan told a session in Davos. (UPDATED)

Erdogan was speaking at the session titled, "The Great Game Revisited",
which was also attended by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev,
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and Iran’s Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and their border
has been closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the
international community with the backing of the diaspora to admit
the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey’s call
to investigate the allegations, and Armenia’s invasion of 20 percent
territory of Azerbaijan.

A warmer period began in relations when Turkish President Abdullah
Gul paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September to watch a World Cup
qualifying football match between the two countries on the invitation
of Sargsyan. The two countries have been holding contacts at the
minister level since.

The Turkish prime minister earlier told reporters that he would meet
with Aliyev again ahead of his meeting with the Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan this evening on the sidelines of the annual meeting
of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, and signaled a road map
for further developments in the region.

"It is very normal that I meet Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev ahead
of the meeting with President Sargsyan. Our talks with Aliyev will
determine the framework of my talks with Sargsyan," Erdogan told
reporters.

The Turkish prime minister dined with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev in Davos on Wednesday.

"We can never leave Azerbaijan alone in the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Erdogan also told reporters.

"If Armenia shows a sincere attitude in the works conducted at lower
levels, we can determine a road map in the meetings after today’s
talks with Sargsyan," he added.

Erdogan said Wednesday he is hopeful regarding the normalization of
Turkey-Armenia relations. "I am hopeful, but I do not know how hopeful
the Armenian side is," Erdogan was quoted by the Anatolian Agency as
telling reporters on Wednesday. The Turkish prime minister said that
he desires to make progress.

Before the talks between Erdogan and Sargsyan, Turkey’s Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan is also expected to hold a second meeting with
his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian in Davos.

There is an ongoing process between Turkey and Armenia and when a
tangible outcome is achieved it would be announced, Babacan had said
after his talks with Nalbandian in the Swiss town on Wednesday.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress