TURKISH PARTY LEADER: WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO PROTEST AGAINST PROTOCOLS AGREED WITH ARMENIA

Today.Az
s/55272.html
Sept 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli
has issued statement on the protocols agreed between the Turkish and
Armenian governments.

MHP leader said the government of Justice and Development Party (AKP)
started procedure of establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia
and re-opening the borders which was new appearance of unprincipled
foreign policy,according to the party’s Web site.

He said two protocols agreed upon with Armenia showed that the
government bowed to the unlawful demands of Armenians.

Bahceli reminded that 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s lands are still
under Armenian occupation.

"Seven regions surrounding Nagorno Karabakh are also under the
occupation and one million Azeris became displaced persons in their
homeland. Turkey-Armenia land borders were closed in 1993 in a protest
against the Armenian occupation. Prime Minister Erdogan promised on May
13 not to open the borders until occupation of Nagorno Karabakh ends,
but now he presents protocols which includes re-opening of borders
and specified date for that".

MHP leader said the process AKP government conducted with Armenia
contradicts national interests of Turkey and it had no legal-political
legitimacy.

Bahceli said six-week domestic consultations would mislead the public
community.

"Turkish parliament has no authority to change the protocols, which
will be accepted in unchanged form or will be rejected. Members of
the parliament from AKP will approve the document. The Nationalist
Movement Party will do its best to protest against the protocols at
the parliament and reveal the guilt and responsibility of the prime
minister and his team before the history and nation", Bahceli said.