Turkey says deal with Armenia not in effect until Armenia withdraws
from Nagorno-Karabakh
Suzan Fraser

taragana.com
October 11th, 2009
Turkey: Armenia must pull out of Nagorno-Karabakh

ANKARA, Turkey ‘ A day after Turkey signed a deal to end a century of
enmity with Armenia, the Turkish prime minister called on Armenia to
withdraw from the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, saying Sunday
the deal cannot come into force until that happens.

The statement appeared to be an effort by Turkey to appease its close
ally Azerbaijan, which said the new agreement will aggravate the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the
agreement to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia, which has been a
bitter foe, as an `important step’ that would lead to cooperation and
dialogue.

Erdogan said however, the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute must be resolved.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an Armenian-occupied enclave in Azerbaijan.

`We want all conflicts to be resolved and we want all borders to be
opened,’ Erdogan said. `(But) as long as Armenia does not withdraw from
occupied territories in Azerbaijan, Turkey cannot take up a positive
position.’

Erdogan also said a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue would ensure
that the agreement is approved by Turkey’s parliament. To take effect,
the agreements must be ratified by the Turkish and Armenian
0Aparliaments, but it faces stiff opposition in both countries.

The agreement signed Saturday at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland,
would establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia and
open the joint border, which was sealed after the 1993 Armenian
invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is inhabited primarily by ethnic
Armenians.

The ceremony went ahead after a last-minute hitch over Turkish and
Armenian objections to language in statements to be read after the
signing, was overcome ‘ by having neither side make a statement.

The contentious issue of whether the killing of up to 1.5 million
Armenians during the final days of the Ottoman Empire amounts to
genocide is only hinted at in the agreement, as is the dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azeri Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the agreement `clouds the
spirit of brotherly relations’ between Azerbaijan and Turkey. It said
Turkey should not have re-established diplomatic ties with Armenia
before the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh was settled.

The enclave in Azerbaijani territory is occupied by Armenian troops.
Turks have close cultural and linguistic ties with Azerbaijan, which is
pressing Turkey for help in recovering its land. Turkey wants Armenia
to withdraw some troops from the enclave area to show good will and
speed the opening of the border.

With the agreements signed, attention has turned to an Oct. 14 soccer
World Cup qualifier between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul attended an initial game in Armenia last
year, but Armenian President Serge Sarkisian has said he will not
attend the return game in Turkey unless there is progress toward
opening the border.

`I strongly believe that he will come,’ Erdogan said. `I hope this game
will turn into a match of total friendship.’