EDWARD NALBANDIAN: "THOUGH AT SARGSYAN-ERDOGAN MEETING THE TURKISH SIDE ATTEMPTED TO DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE, OUR ANSWER WAS THE SAME"

APA
April 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Armenia will never concede in Karabakh issue for the sake of
Turkey-Armenia process

Yerevan – APA. "The normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations can
not be linked to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian said, APA reports.

"At the meeting between President Serzh Sargsyan and Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan the Turkish side attempted to discuss
the issue on Nagorno Karabakh. But the answer was the same – the
normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations can not be linked to the
Karabakh problem. I do not see a reason to discuss this issue with
Turkey," he said.

Edward Nalbandian said Turkey could not be the mediator in the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"Moreover, Armenia will never concede in Karabakh issue for the sake
of Turkey-Armenia process. Linking of the two processes damage both
of them. This is also the position of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,"
he said.

Foreign Minister said Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting gave an opportunity
to the Armenian side to realize Turkey’s position more properly.

"Again we are sure that our assessment of Armenia-Turkey relations
is right. Our ideas concerning the following steps and approaches
were also strengthened. President will inform the public when it is
necessary to pass a relevant decision," he said.

According to Nalbandian, if Turkey does not want the normalization
process to fail, it should immediately demonstrate its willingness
to ratify the protocols and start normalizing the relations.