TURKISH FM LINKS ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION WITH NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

News.am
15:02 / 02/02/2010

Turkey is seeking to establish good relations with all of its neighbors
and, with this end in view, is launching a new policy of zero problems
with neighbors, Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu stated while addressing
the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
on "New World Geopolitics: How Turkey is Contributing to Global Peace
and Security as a Member of the UN Security Council".

Tatevik Grigorian of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe
(FAAE) reminded the Turkish FM that the Armenian-Turkish protocols
do not contain any preconditions though Armenia could have raised
the issue of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, for its part, is not only
delaying the ratification, but has set a precondition, one involving
a third country, Azerbaijan, in the context of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Moreover, referring to the verdict of the RA Constitutional Court,
which only confirms the constitutionality of the protocols, Turkey
is now impeding the ratification though the RA Constitutional Court’s
verdict cannot be an impediment to further Armenian-Turkish dialogue.

Responding to the FAAE’s question as to whether Turkey has changed
its position or it was initially insincere, the Turkish FM stated
that Turkey attaches importance to security in the South Caucasus
and to a political dialogue with all the three states. It was with
this end in view that Turkey signed the protocols and submitted them
to Parliament. Minister Davutoglu did his best for the protocols to
be submitted to Parliament and ratified though that was not at all
his duty.

Turkey is being accused of delaying the ratification of the protocols,
but Turkey is actually seeking to establish contacts with both Armenia
and the Armenians and Turks scattered all over the world, Davutoglu
said. Turkey, however, denies the idea of Armenian Genocide, as a great
many Turks were killed during that period and thousands emigrated
from the Balkans, the Turkish FM said. As regards preconditions,
he stated that Turkey is seeking a radical solution to the problem,
for security to be established in the entire region.

According to Davutoglu, 20% of Azerbaijan’s territories are occupied,
and neither Turkey nor Azerbaijan agrees to the status quo. But the
protocols can be ratified provided the aforementioned problem is
resolved – Turkey is still hoping for that, Davutoglu said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress