TURKEY WANTS SUBSTANCE OF ARMENIA PROTOCOLS TO BE PROTECTED

news.az
Jan 22 2010
Azerbaijan

Ahmet Davutoglu Turkey’s foreign minister has said that the substance
and spirit of the Turkey-Armenia protocols on normalizing relations
should be protected.

Ahmet Davutoglu was speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Friday.

Commenting on the Armenian Constitutional Court’s verdict on the
protocols, Davutoglu said it was natural that the Armenian court should
elaborate on the protocols’ compliance with the Armenian constitution,
adding however that the preservation of the substance and spirit of
the protocols was what really mattered for Turkey.

"Restrictions on the protocols, attempts to divide them and give
precedence to certain parts over others, do not suit the substance
and spirit of these protocols," Davutoglu said.

He said that Turkey had started out with the intention of normalizing
relations with its neighbour Armenia and had displayed a strong
politicial will to conclude the process. He said Turkey expected
Armenia to remain committed to the protocols.

Davutoglu said he had communicated Turkey’s concerns to his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandian by phone. He said Nalbandian had
reassured him that the court’s verdict did not change what Armenia
had agreed at the beginning.

"However, we expect to hear more unequivocal and clear statements on
this issue," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu said he would call US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
and talk to Switzerland, which is mediating the talks with Armenia,
to voice Turkey’s concerns.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress