TURKEY TO SET UP STRATEGIC COOPERATION COUNCIL WITH GREECE, RUSSIA

WorldBulletin.net
April 26 2010
Turkey

Turkey will establish high-level strategic cooperation council
mechanism with Greece and Russia in May, Turkey’s foreign minister
said on Monday.

Monday, 26 April 2010 13:14

Turkey will establish high-level strategic cooperation council
mechanism with Greece and Russia in May, Turkey’s foreign minister
said on Monday.

Ahmet Davutoglu told a parliamentary session that Turkish and Greek
governments would have a joint cabinet meeting during Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Greece in May. Davutoglu
said such a meeting would also be held with Russia during Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Ankara the same month.

Turkey plans to set up the strategic cooperation mechanism with
Bulgaria and Ukraine, Davutoglu said.

Currently, Turkey carries out strategic cooperation mechanism with
neighboring countries Iraq and Syria. Last year, Turkey and Iraq
signed 48 agreements, while Turkey and Syria inked 51 agreements in
this frame.

"STATUS QUO HAS TO CHANCE IN CAUCASÄ°A"

On problems in the Caucasia, Davutoglu said Turkey does not want the
status quo to go on. Turkey aims not to allow discussion or judgement
of Turkey-Armenia relations in third countries, Davutoglu said.

"Medvedev will come to Turkey in the coming month and the top issue on
the agenda will be Azerbaijan’s occupied territory. We assume it as
our own issue and continue to keep it on the agenda on all grounds,"
he said.

"Nothing can deal a blow on friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan,"
Davutoglu said. "Everybody must know it very well."

Davutoglu gave information to lawmakers also about government’s goals
for the future. He said Turks and Armenians will learn to share pain
and common history, adding, "they will live together."

"This is our perspective on peace," Davutoglu said.

"Parallel to this, occupation of Azeri lands will end and the dispute
between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be resolved. The border between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and also the border between Turkey and Armenia
will open. It means a corridor from Erzurum [a province in the east
of Turkey] will open through the Central Asia," he said.

Davutoglu said "Turkey-Armenia relations will become normalized."

Davutoglu said Turkey would not allow this issue to cast shadow
on Turkey’s relations with other countries anymore, especially on
relations with the United States.

"RIGHT TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECATUIONS"

Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu also said Monday Turkey had the
right to take the necessary precautions if the protocols signed with
Armenia were interpreted against the spirit of the protocols.

Ahmet Davutoglu told a parliamentary session that the protocols would
be ratified by the respective parliaments when political conditions
get formed.

By pursuing an active foreign policy in regions of neighboring
countries, we want to facilitate the establishment of permanent peace.

We are at a stage where we are about to establish strategic cooperation
councils with all of our neighbors, Davutoglu said.

Within this framework, we signed agreements with Iraq and Syria last
year. A similar mechanism will be established with Greece and Russia
next month. We are planning to establish a similar mechanism with
Bulgaria and Ukraine, Davutoglu said.

When you consider Turkey’s close relations with Azerbaijan and Georgia,
you notice that the only missing ring is Armenia. We want to develop
good relations with Armenia based on the respect of borders and
deepened by diplomatic ties. This is actually a foreign policy based on
the principle of ‘Peace at Home, Peace in the World’, Davutoglu said.

Touching on an Armenian resolution in the United States, Davutoglu
said that the Turkish government took all the necessary precautions
on this matter.

Our goal is not to let third countries interfere in Turkey’s relations
with Armenia, Davutoglu said.

"CONDEMNED THE INSULTS"

During this process, Turkey conducts relations with Azerbaijani
officials in full coordination. Turkey regards the Azerbaijani
territory under (Armenian) occupation as her own issue. There is full
coordination with Azerbaijan in this matter. No development can be
a blow to the friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Davutoglu said.

Our goal is to normalize Turkey-Armenia relations and resolve the
dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Davutoglu said.

Wherever they may meet, Turks and Armenians, from now on, will not
only share pains but also common history and they will be together.

This is our perspective of peace, Davutoglu said.

Despite such efforts of Turkey, we have to strongly condemn the
acts of certain Armenian groups against our flag and symbols of the
Turkish state. We have always condemned such acts. Yet we know that
such provocators can not be an obstacle to the implementation of
our great vision. We will continue to struggle against such groups
everywhere and at every platform. We will give the necessary response
to all those offending the honor and history of the Turks. Turkey is
determined to be the engine of the whole region and will become the
engine, Davutoglu also said.