ANKARA DISMISSES YEREVAN INCIDENT BETWEEN DIPLOMATS

AzerNews Weekly
April 22 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey`s government has dismissed Armenian media reports claiming that
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev had a tense few moments together during
a visit to Yerevan.

The reports circulated that the incident occurred on Thursday
when Babacan was in a hurry to meet with Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisian on the sidelines of a ministerial of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization (BSEC) in the Armenian capital, which was
attended by Azerbaijan. Reports said Babacan behaved rudely towards
the Azerbaijani deputy minister. Mammadguliyev, who was whispering
something to Babacan, reportedly delayed him in the conference room
and the latter showed the door to him.

Turkey`s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the publication
of reports regarding Babacan`s alleged rudeness, first in the media
of Armenia and then that of Azerbaijan, was irresponsible.

Further, the ministry confirmed that the Turkish foreign minister met
with Mammadguliyev during his visit to Armenia, however, the meeting
proceeded in a friendly atmosphere and was beneficial, contrary to
allegations published in the media.

Babacan was also quick to comment on the rumors. "Don`t take the
reports about an incident between me and the Azerbaijani deputy
minister seriously," he told the local media.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress