TURKISH PREMIER COMMENTS ON TURKEY-ARMENIA AGREEMENTS, CYPRUS ISSUE

Anadolu Agency
Jan 31 2010
Turkey

Istanbul, 31 January: Turkey’s prime minister commented on
Turkish-Armenian relations and the Cyprus issue during a TV programme
he attended on Sunday [31 January].

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied to questions of
reporters at a TV programme broadcast on TRT-1 channel.

Commenting on relations between Turkey and Armenia, Erdogan said that
Turkey would not take a step back regarding the protocol it signed
with Armenia in Switzerland.

Erdogan said that Russia, France and USA, which were the three
co-chairs of the "Minsk Group", showed a major negligence in the
process.

He said Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan would not be experiencing the
current problems if those countries had taken the necessary actions
over the last 20 years.

"United Nations (UN) confirmed Armenia’s invasion as well. The problem
will end once this invasion is over," Erdogan said.

Pointing to the 170,000 Armenian-origin people living in Turkey
currently, Erdogan said nearly 70,000 of them were Turkish citizens,
while the rest were living in the country illegally.

"We overlook this fact. Because, we do not want any tension,"
Erdogan said, adding that Armenia did not respond positively to
Turkey’s efforts.

Regarding Cyprus issue, Erdogan said the Greek Cypriot party did not
have a positive approach like the Turkish Cypriots.

He said Turkey desired UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to assume an
active role in the ongoing process in the island.

Commenting on the result of the Orams case as well, Erdogan said the
United Kingdom had displayed a wrong stance and a major complacency
in the case and Turkey had never approved such attitude.