TURKEY’S OPPOSITION PARTIES CRITICIZE NORMALIZATION TALKS WITH ARMENIA

Xinhua General News Service
September 1, 2009 Tuesday 4:55 PM EST
China

Turkey’s opposition parties on Tuesday criticized the government’s move
to start talks on establishing diplomatic ties with the country’s
long-time foe Armenia for making unilateral concession, a local
newspaper reported Tuesday on its website.

Armenia has not changed its policy enough or implemented necessary
preconditions to allow a reconciliation with Turkey, the Turkish
newspaper Hurriyet Daily News quoted Republican People’s Party (CHP)
Vice President Onur Oymen as saying.

"Armenia has promised nothing in response to this protocol and so
what Turkey does will be a one-sided concession," he said.

Deputy Deniz Bolukbasi of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said
the content of the protocols do not meet Turkey’s expectations as
Armenia neither promises to withdraw from Nagorno- Karabakh, the
age-long disputed land, nor pledges to resolve problems with Turkey.

A joint statement issued by Turkey, Armenia and mediator Switzerland on
Monday said two protocols will be inked after six weeks of "internal
political consultations" to establish diplomatic ties and enhance
bilateral relations with Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic or economic ties since Armenia
declared its independence in 1991.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 to support Azerbaijan
during its conflict with Armenia over the Upper Karabakh region and
has said the border could be opened only after the withdrawal of
Armenian troops from the disputed land.