TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER REJECTS OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE IN TALKS WITH ARMENIA

Anadolu Agency
Feb 9 2009
Turkey

"Turkish foreign minister rejects third party intervention into
Turkey-Armenia talks as counterproductive"

ANKARA (A.A) – Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Monday any
intervention by a third party into Turkey’s ongoing talks with Armenia
would prove counterproductive.

"The dialogue between our two countries aims at normalizing
all bilateral relations and we make progress to that end in each
contact. And I do not believe that the intervention of other countries
would be constructive," Babacan told a joint press meeting with
visiting Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin in Ankara.

Babacan said talks with Armenia included the events of 1915, asking
for support to the dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.

"As we conduct such important talks all should avoid moves that would
damage this process," Babacan said.

The Turkish foreign minister said he discussed with his Ethiopian
counterpart recent developments in Somalia, and problems in Sudan
and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Babacan said Turkish parliament was set to discuss on Tuesday a
government motion to deploy naval forces to the Gulf of Aden.

Visiting foreign minister said on his part that Ethiopia welcomed
Turkish businesspeople investing in his country, adding that Turkey
had established good relations with African countries.