APA, Azerbaijan
May 1 2010

Turkish premier reaffirms his country is loyal to protocols with Armenia

[ 01 May 2010 05:06 ]

Baku ` APA. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said
his country maintained its willingness to settle problems with
Armenia, despite the coalition government in Yerevan has decided to
suspend the ratification process of two protocols the two countries
had signed to normalize relations and restore diplomatic ties, APA
reports quoting turkishny.com web-page. "We have kept our positive
stance and remained loyal to the word and the spirit of the protocols
from the very beginning and we will continue to do so," Erdogan told a
televised address to the nation.

Erdogan said U.S. President Barack Obama voiced in his remarks on
April 24 "allegations which cannot be accepted by our nation although
he has taken into account part of our sensitivities."

The Turkish premier was referring to Obama’s annual speech on April
24, the date accepted by Armenians as the anniversary of the incidents
of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.

In his speech, Obama described the incidents of 1915 as "one of the
worst atrocities" of the 20th century and "a devastating chapter" in
history.

Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s proposal to leave the issue to historians,
criticizing "third parties of trying to forge domestic political
clout."

A U.S. House panel and the Swedish parliament have earlier approved
two separate bills that affirmed Armenian allegations on the incidents
of 1915.

"Turkey is very much disturbed from such insincere attitude of
countries which we see as our friends, whoever they might be," Erdogan
said.

The two protocols between Ankara and Yerevan aims to normalize
relations, reopen their border and restore diplomatic ties which broke
down in 1994 following the Armenian occupation of Karabakh region in
Azerbaijan.