TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES PLANS FOR MEETING WITH ARMENIAN MINISTER

Anadolu Agency
Nov 25 2009
Turkey

Ankara, 25 November: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that
there was not a planned meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu and Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan during the
Cooperation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting to
be held in Greek capital Athens on 1-2 December.

Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said
at a weekly press briefing, "A meeting among the presidency of the
Minsk Group, Azerbaijan and Armenia is envisaged on the sidelines of
the meeting. But there is not a planned meeting for Davutoglu."

Upon a question about a visit by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders
to Turkey, Ozugergin said, "We reject views of this person. We
consider those views racist and unacceptable. It seems that we are
not the only one. You know that he is not welcomed in many European
countries. If such a visit takes place, media’s attention will focus
on it, overshadowing positive aspects of the visit."

Asked about Turkey’s expectations from the EU summit scheduled to
take place in December, Ozugergin said, "We carry out our relations
in line with the negotiations frame document and decisions made by
the council."

Ozugergin told reporters that they welcomed election of Belgian Prime
Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the first permanent president of the
European Council and election of Catherina Ashton of the United Kingdom
as the EU’s new high representative for foreign affairs and security.

"These developments can end negative impacts of countries’ individual
purposes on the EU’s long-term strategic benefits. In that case,
Europe will assume an attitude focusing on its long-term interests
and begin considering Turkey a precious partner. After the Treaty of
Lisbon comes into effect, it will have positive impacts on Turkey-the
EU relations," he said.