TURKEY ATTACHES STRINGS TO DEAL WITH ARMENIA

AP
October 13, 2009

ANKARA: A day after Turkey signed a deal to end a century of enmity
with Armenia, the Turkish Prime Minister has called on Armenia to
withdraw from the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, saying the
deal could not 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 would aggravate the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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 co-operation and
dialogue. But Mr Erdogan said, however, that 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," Mr Erdogan said. "(But) as long as Armenia does not withdraw
from occupied territories in Azerbaijan, Turkey cannot take up a
positive position."

Mr Erdogan said a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue would ensure
the agreement was approved by Turkey’s parliament.

The agreement, signed at the weekend, 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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress