TURKEY DOES NOT SET FORTH KARABAKH ISSUE AS PRECONDITION TO NORMALIZATION: DAVUTOGLU

news.am
April 16 2010
Armenia

Turkey does not set forth Karabakh issue as a precondition to
Armenia-Turkey normalization, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
stated at Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

His speech was focused on Iran’s nuclear program and Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation, Turkish Vatan e-source reports. "To have the Protocols
ratified by both Parliaments, political and psychological atmosphere
is to be ensured in Armenia and Turkey. We need tolerantly pave the
way with our Armenian counterparts. If we succeed, the settlement of
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will incite the process as well. Turkey
does not lay down Karabakh issue as a precondition, though we know
that conflicts in Caucasus, Middle East and Balkans are interrelated.

We are optimistic and work over yielding positive results. We are
ready to achieve reconciliation both at state level and mend fences
with Armenian Diaspora worldwide. We are ready to give ear to our
Armenian friends on our history," Davutoglu said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Habergazete newspaper draws attention to the
fact that Turkish Government tells Turkish people one thing on the
Protocols and another-to the U.S. officials. Particularly, Turkish
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly stated that Turkey-Armenia
border will not open without Karabakh conflict settlement, while
Turkish FM said in Washington that Turkey refused to set Karabakh
issue as a precondition to the normalization.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress