TURKEY BACKS AZERI INTERESTS AS SELF

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 20 2009
Armenia

At the meeting with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he will back
Azerbaijan’s interests as Turkish, the CNN Turk informs. "We will
maintain Azerbaijan’s interests as Turkey’s," he said.

Erdogan maintains he will adhere to the statement made in Azeri
parliament — Turkey will support Azerbaijan’s interests as its
own. He underlined that Turkey will never take steps contradicting
Azerbaijan’s interests.

Erdogan pointed out that there are some forces within Turkey that
want to damage the Turkey-Azerbaijan relations. "I want to tell the
Azerbaijani people that your joy is Turkey’s joy and your grief is
Turkey’s grief," he said. According to him the issue was thoroughly
discussed at his meeting with Azerbaijani MPs.

Tension between Azerbaijan and Turkey grew as Turkey-Armenia
Protocols were signed in Zurich Oct. 10. Richard Giragosian, Head of
the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
told NEWS.am that U.S. pressurizes Turkey for prompt ratification of
the Protocols. According to him, Turkey is no more as it used to be –
now it stands firm on its feet. "Now Turkey will not buy "American
smiles". Now Ankara can tell Washington: "Sorry buddy but this is my
county and we have our interests. Today more then ever we are closer to
Russia, so… And, in order that Washington achieves its goal it will
have to offer something in return to Ankara," maintains the expert.

Armenia-Turkey Protocols will be submitted to the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey October 21. Turkish PM was going to lvisit U.S.

October 29 on Barack Obama’s invitation, however, due to that the
day coincides with the Republic Day of Turkey the former postponed
the visit for an indefinite term. Allegedly, Washington initiated
the visit to exert pressure over Ankara for the early ratification
of the Protocols. However, postponing the visit Ankara infers Turkey
will stick to its positions in the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress