TURKEY’S AIM MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF BORDER
news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia
In the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Turkey’s aim is mutual recognition
of the border, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated at a
budget discussion in the Turkish Parliament.
He assured the Parliament members that the document does not in any
way affect turkey’s interests and pointed out that official Ankara
attaches paramount importance to defending Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. Minister Davutoglu stated that Azerbaijan lost 20 per cent
of its territory, and the status quo has been maintained for 17 years.
In this context he pointed out that the situation will never change
if it is not changed for the next ten years.
The Turkish FM stated that the Armenian-Turkish protocols are not a
means of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations nor are they a means
of establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is a way
to the liberation of Azerbaijani territories.
The Hurriyet newspaper reported that Minister Davutoglu also stated
that steady progress in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process
depends on the improvement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. In this
context, he pointed out that the OSCE Minsk Group has intensified
activities. Seven bilateral meetings have been held over the last six
months. Ahmet Davutoglu expressed hope that Turkey will thus play
an important role in establishing peace in the Caucasus. Turkey’s
ultimate aim is to improve its relations with Armenia. The
Armenian-Turkish relations must be free of historical prejudice,
Davutoglu. In this context he pointed out the need for "blocking the
way to ungrounded claims about genocide and for building up history
on just memories." The Turkish FM stressed the need for a new era
in Armenian-Turkish relations and, in this context, for a historical
commission and resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.