ARMENIA NOT TO ABANDON "GENOCIDE" CLAIMS AFTER OPENING BORDERS: TURKISH FM
Trend
Sept 16 2009
Azerbaijan
After consultations with the country’s political parties on the
Turkish-Armenian Protocol, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu
expressed concern that Armenia will not abandon the claims for
"genocide" even after the opening of the border, the Turkish Anadolu
news agency reported.
"I do not think that Armenia will refuse from "genocide" claims after
the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border," said Davudoglu.
On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland
reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations"
to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and
Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry reported.
Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and
following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two
countries’ parliaments for approval, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
reported.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.
The Turkish Foreign Minister has met with the representatives of the
country’s opposition camp. Opposition Leader Deniz Baykal asked to
include the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh in the protocol, signed in
August between Turkey and Armenia. The head of the National Movement
Party, Devlet Bahceli refused to meet with Davudoglu.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
