ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS COULD BECOME KARS AGREEMENT EXTENSION

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.09.2009 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We can’t go back to the same relations we had
before protocols’ publication, and I believe there’s no need to do
so," ex NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan told a news conference
in Yerevan. According to him, if signed, Armenian-Turkish protocols
could become an extension of Kars agreement.

"Kars agreement stipulates for acknowledgement of borders between
Turkey and 3 Caucasian states: Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. At
present, only the point stipulating for RA-Turkish borders is being
observed by default. First, Yerevan should annul Kars agreement, and
later continue negotiating RA -Turkish rapprochement." Arman Melikyan
stated, adding that neither Azerbaijan or Georgia acknowledged borders
with Turkey, thus automatically annulling the agreement. Refusing to
observe Kars agreement, Azerbaijan refused Nakhichevan, as, legally,
it does not belong to Azerbaijan territory.

"Only Armenia keeps following the Agreement, which even Turkey does
not acknowledge. Everything both courtiers are trying to achieve
through Protocols, including normalization and development of ties,
is already specified by Kars agreement," Arman Melikayn noted.

According to him, by refusing to acknowledge Kars agreement and sign
the Protocols, Armenia will find itself under Turkey’s influence. "I
don’t want such fate to befall our country. We have to clarify our
relations with Turkey and finally free ourselves from "ghosts of
past"," Arman Melikyan said.