AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
Feb 12 2010

Turkish president replies to Sarkisian’s call on `decisive steps’

12-02-2010 05:46:20

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has replied to his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sarkisian’s letter sent a few days ago that called
on Gul to take `decisive steps’ toward normalizing the two countries’
relations that have been strained for decades.
According to the Turkish president’s website, Gul indicated that the
key objectives in efforts to normalize bilateral relations were
`overcoming long-established prejudices and nurturing mutual
understanding and trust among our two neighboring peoples.’
`You should have no doubt that our determination to move these
objectives forward is intact, provided this resolve and commitment
remains reciprocal,’ Gul said after the two countries accused each
other of trying to rewrite the accords on mending bilateral ties
signed in late 2009.
He emphasized that Ankara will continue the process of normalizing its
relations with Yerevan based on the agreement reached. `I will keep on
dealing with this process with hope to achieve result satisfying our
countries.’
President Sarkisian had sent his letter to Gul on a plane heading to
Britain while flying over Turkey’s territory on Monday.
Sarkisian’s letter also said Turkey and Armenia’s initiative seeking
to achieve reconciliation is in the spotlight of the world community.
He also wrote that a historic chance has emerged to move forward the
process of Turkish-Armenian reconcliation, and efforts of world powers
are crucial for mending bilateral relations.
On Wednesday, Sarkisian said the accords must be voted on by the
Turkish parliament before Armenia`s parliament would approve them, and
warned that Armenia could break off the effort to normalize relations
if Turkey dragged its feet.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds for decades and maintain no
diplomatic ties. Ankara and Yerevan signed two protocols on
normalizing their relations in Switzerland in October 2009 in a bid to
end decades of hostility. The United States, Russia and France
facilitated the signing of the Turkish-Armenian protocols. However,
the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments.
Turkish officials have assured Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally, that the
protocols will not pass in the country’s parliament until progress is
made in resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Also, the Armenian
Constitutional Court issued a ruling in January that Ankara labeled as
containing pre-conditions. While saying the protocols signed in Zurich
were in line with the introductory part of the country’s Constitution,
the ruling still allows Armenia to pursue international recognition of
the alleged World War I-era genocide in Ottoman Turkey.*