TURKISH PRESIDENT URGES ARMENIAN DIASPORA NOT TO BLOCK AGREEMENT
Anadolu Ajanci (Anatolia Agency)
Oct 3 2009
Turkey
Naxcivan, 3 October: Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged Saturday
[3 October] Armenian diaspora not to block settlement of problems
between Turkey and its neighbour Armenia.
"They should support all efforts for peace in the Caucasus, if they
care about the future of Armenia," Gul told reporters in Azerbaijan’s
Naxcivan Autonomous Republic where he attended the summit meeting of
leaders of Turkic-speaking countries.
Gul’s remarks came after protests on Friday at the start of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s tour of Armenian diaspora in the
world. Demonstrators in Paris, the first stop of his tour, shouted
"traitor" at Sargsyan.
Gul said the Armenian diaspora was pursuing such a policy in order
to preserve their identity in some countries.
"But this is not right," Gul said. "It is easy to speak from a
distance."
Asked if tension between Turkey and Azerbaijan – after the protocol
that Turkey and Armenia agreed on to normalize relations – was
overcome, Gul said, "fraternity between Turkey and Azerbaijan has
always been tested. In this respect, Turkey and Azerbaijan have full
confidence in each other."
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties or economic relations since
Armenia declared its independence in 1991 and Turkey closed its border
with Armenia after this country invaded the Upper-Karabakh region of
Azerbaijan in 1992.
In July 2008, the then Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan expressed
Turkey’s willingness to normalize relations with Yerevan.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul travelled to Armenia in September
2008 to watch 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier match between the two
countries upon an invitation by President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia.
After months-long Swiss mediated talks, Turkey and Armenia agreed
about a month ago on a protocol to establish relations. The protocol
is expected to be signed in Switzerland on 10 October.
Turkey and Armenia are to play another qualifier in Istanbul on
14 October.