DAVUTOGLU REITERATES KARABAKH LINKAGE WITH PROTOCOLS

Asbarez
Dec 23rd, 2009

BRUSSELS (Hurriyet)-Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reiterated
Turkey’s long-standing claim and precondition that normalization
of Turkey-Armenia relations was linked with the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ruling out criticism of Ankara for linking the issues of normalization
of relations between Ankara and Yerevan to the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Baku and Yerevan, Davutoglu said:
"Normalization at the bilateral level is linked with an improvement
in the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Turkish-Armenian border has
been closed for years but we are still trying to resolve this issue.

If the same kind of good intention can be shown on the other issue,
then it may reach a further level as well."

When reminded of Armenian officials’ recent statements threatening
to annul the protocols signed by Ankara and Yerevan in October for
the normalization of relations if Ankara fails to ratify them before
April, Davutoglu said the issue should be dealt with via a "visionary"
approach instead of by enacting arbitrary deadlines.

Dismissing reports that he plans to pay a visit to Israel, Davutoglu
reiterated his harsh criticism of Israeli inaction on the ongoing
humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.

Recalling a recent call by former US President Jimmy Carter for world
powers to coerce Israel to end its blockade of Gaza, Davutoglu asked,
"Should we now call Carter anti-Semitic for what he said?"

Israel’s Gaza offensive last winter "killed the peace perspective,"
he said, adding, "If the peace perspective is rebuilt, then we will
not avoid having contact."