Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Nov 1 2009

Nalbandian: Turkey-Armenia ties, Karabakh separate issues

Sunday, November 1, 2009
ISTANBUL ` Hürriyet Daily News

AGREEMENT: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian (seated, L) and
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu (seated, R) sign the historic
protocols Oct. 10 in Zurich. Nalbandian says both sides now need to
move quickly to approve and implement the protocols. (AFP photo)

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has said the improving of
Turkey-Armenia relations and Nagorno-Karabakh are two separate issues,
reported the Turkish media Sunday.

Nalbandian said this was the international community’s approach to the
subject as well as Armenia’s.

According to the Armenian foreign minister, talks between Turkey and
Armenia have ended and both countries are obliged to open their border
and take steps to establish diplomatic ties per the protocols signed
between the two sides Oct. 10.

`Why did we sign protocols if we will not approve them and implement
them?’ asked Nalbandian. He said the entire international community
expects the protocols to be approved and executed speedily and the
sides to abide by the agreed points in the protocols.

The Armenian minister said if one of the parties delays the approval
or execution of the protocols or impedes these processes, it would
bear the sole responsibility for the negative consequences.

Nalbandian said positive momentum had been achieved between Armenian
President Serge Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
toward the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, with the
mediation of the United States, Russia and France. He said he was
unable to say if a solution would be reached soon.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia to show its support for
Azerbaijan, a long-time Turkish ally, after Armenia invaded
Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region in 1992.