TURKISH FM: TURKEY-ARMENIA BILATERAL TIES SHOULD NOT AFFECT TURKEY-U.S. RELATIONS
ArmInfo
2009-06-15 12:13:00
ArmInfo. Turkey-Armenia bilateral ties should not affect
Turkey-U.S. relations, Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmad Davudoglu
said in an exclusive interview with Trend News.
When asked about the parallel nature of the processes of normalization
of the Armenian- Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, the minister said: ‘Our policy on this issue is obvious. We
see from dialogue with Armenia that it also wants peace and development
in the Caucasus. We want to further normalize bilateral ties as a
part of our good neighbor policy. There is a need for progress and
development in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to
normalize situation in the region. All sides must work to implement
these plans. Turkey-Armenia bilateral ties are not only limited with
the South Caucasus, but they also impact Turkey-U.S. relations. This is
not right. Our relations with Armenia must not influence our relations
with the U.S.’. The minister did not agree to the opinion that talks
on "Road Map" are not as significant as before following Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan: ‘ We are resolute enough in talks with
Armenia. Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and even Russia and Georgia share
common future. We all are located in the same region. So, we need to
be constructive and avoid processes and actions that hinder our talks’.
When asked whether the main agenda of Turkey, chairing in the UN
SC, includes Karabakh issue, Davudoglu replied: ‘Of course, we have
such plans.
Our first meeting in New York was symbolic as Turkey has just assumed
mandate of chairmanship in the Security Council. This month a wide
range of issues will be discussed in the Security Council. Turkey
favors discussions over matters of international interest and
importance including Karabakh problem. We want Armenia-Azerbaijan
talks to be fruitful. We also work on this issue within the OSCE Minsk
Group. During my Washington visit I discussed it with U.S. officials
and we concluded that our common task is to contribute to resolution
of the conflict in every way possible’.