SIGNING PROTOCOLS WITH ARMENIA A HISTORICAL MISTAKE, BOLUKBASI

Today’s Zaman
April 26 2010
Turkey

A deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from Ankara,
Deniz Bolukbasi, said Monday signing protocols with Armenia was an
historical mistake.

Speaking on Turkish-Armenian relations after a speech delivered by
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at a parliamentary session
on Monday, Bolukbasi said that it was an historical mistake on the
part of the Turkish government to sign a protocol with Armenia that
does not recognize its borders with Turkey and one that is an occupier
of territory.

The Justice and Development (AK) Party government could not display the
courage to withdraw the protocols. The AK Party government continued
with its weak stance by expressing that they would be loyal to the
‘signature’ on the protocols, BölukbaÅ~_ı said.

Turkey’s foreign policy has insulted Azerbaijan and this policy could
not be very effective, BölukbaÅ~_ı also said.

Also speaking on Turkish-Armenian relations at the parliament on
Monday, a deputy of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Onur Oymen,
said that the U.S. President Barack Obama referred to the incidents
of 1915 by using an Armenian word meaning ‘genocide’ on April 24.

How can we accept such an insult to our grandparents? Oymen asked
during his speech.

It is only international courts that can decide on whether there
has been a genocide or not. We do not think Obama’s comments on the
incidents of 1915 were right, Oymen said.

The protocols with Armenia should not be ratified unless Armenia
withdraws from Azerbaijani territory, and Armenia gives up its
assertions on the incidents of 1915. The protocols should not be
ratified unless Armenia gives up its claims on Turkish territory in
eastern Anatolia, Oymen also said.