‘A STEP BACKWARD’: TURKISH OPPOSITION CRITICIZES ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS
Tert.am
12.10.09
Turkish opposition parties have criticized the protocols signed between
Turkey and Armenia on Saturday to establish diplomatic relations by
describing the move as a "step backward" in Turkish foreign policy,
reports Turkish daily Today’s Zaman.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Onur Oymen
told Today’s Zaman that the protocols signed in Zurich is evidence
that Turkey has taken a step back in its fundamental foreign policy
regarding Armenia for the past 17 years.
Indicating that a process of normalization with Armenia can only take
place if Armenia withdraws from "Azerbaijani territory," Oymen argued
that Turkey had made unilateral concessions with the agreement. "There
will be great pressure in Turkey following these signatures because
the protocol texts include articles about Turkey opening its border
and establishing diplomatic ties, but there is not even the slightest
sign that Armenia will withdraw from the territories it invaded. There
is not the slightest reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute,"
Oymen said.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said the day
the agreement was signed was a "black day." He said protocols signed
with Armenia were not based on reciprocity and that they were not
equal and balanced.