TURKISH MINISTER NOTES IMPORTANCE OF NORMALIZATION PROCESS WITH ARMENIA

Anadolu Agency
Jan 29 2010
Turkey

London, 29 January: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
[on] Friday [29 January] the normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia should not be hurt.

Speaking at a press conference in London, Davutoglu stressed that the
continuation of the process between Turkey and Armenia was important
for Turkey.

For this reason, we will do all that we can. We will not pay attention
to any criticisms for a thing that we believe we are doing right,
Davutoglu stressed.

Reminding reporters that he met with his Armenian counterpart
on Thursday within the framework on a conference on Afghanistan,
Davutoglu said that Edvard Nalbandyan and he exchanged views.

Nalbandyan and I shared the concerns we felt, Davutoglu said.

Answering a question on the Armenian Constitutional Court’s recent
decision on the protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia, Davutoglu said
that Turkey believed that the process with Armenia would not progress
right with comments that were against the spirit and substance of
the signed protocols.

We have respect for the (domestic) system of every country. The
protocols’ going to the Armenian Constitutional Court is an internal
process of Armenia. What we are careful about is that the protocols
signed do not get changed, Davutoglu stressed.

Turkish-Armenian relations passed through very difficult stages and
we have come to a point today. After having gone through a difficult
process, the normalization process reached should not be hurt. Yet
in order for normalization to be implemented, mutual good will and
political will must be displayed. We had a very open meeting with
Mr Nalbandyan on Thursday. The Armenian side knows our thoughts,
Davutoglu added.