Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 22 2010
Turkish premier reaffirms commitment to protocols signed with Armenia
Ankara, 22 April: Turkish premier has said his country remained
committed to achieve goals set by two protocols with Armenia to
normalize relations.
"As we have earlier stated numerous times, we are loyal to the
protocols, their essence and spirit as well as their implementation,"
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint press conference with New Zealander
counterpart John Key after a their meeting in the Turkish capital,
Ankara.
Erdogan was responding to a question over Armenian coalition
government’s statement on Thursday that it suspended the ratification
process of the protocols.
Turkey and Armenia have signed last the protocols to normalize
relations, reopen their border and restore diplomatic ties which broke
down in 1994 following the Armenian occupation of Karabakh region in
Azerbaijan.
"Obviously, it is at their own discretion over how they would manage
the ratification process. I am in no position to tell them what to
say," Erdogan said, adding that he had "taken note" of the Yerevan
government’s decision.