TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES: GUL AND ERDOGAN HOLD CONFLICTING VIEWS
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 19:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan differ on their opinions on Armenian-Turkish
border opening. The politicians defend their views, with Gul saying
normalizations would continue ‘without preconditions’ and PM asking
Armenia to first end its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh.
On Friday last week, President Abdullah Gul said that normalization
would proceed ‘without preconditions," said David Phillips, a senior
fellow with the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Atlantic Council
of the United States. "During a television interview the next day,
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey could open its border if
Armenia lifts its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh." Phillips also said
he welcomed Turkey and Armenia’s joint April 23 move to announce a
framework agreement for normalizing relations, but warned, "Progress
will be measured by actions, not words."
Turkey closed its land border with Armenia in 1993 and has refused
to establish diplomatic ties because of Karabakh conflict. "Turkey’s
national interests cannot be held hostage by Azerbaijan," Philips said.
"The United States, which strongly backs the Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation process, says the road map should be implemented without
preconditions." "If the Turkish-Armenian deal fails, it would have
serious repercussions on U.S.-Turkish relations," Philips added.
From: Baghdasarian