Trend, Azerbaijan
May 21 2010

Turkish MP: Turkey and Armenia resort to ‘silent diplomacy’

Turkey and Armenia have decided to remain silence for some time and to
study the issues on the negotiation table to normalize Yerevan- Ankara
relations, Turkey-United States Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group
head Suat Kiniklioglu said at the Institute for the Study of the
Middle East in Washington, the Zaman newspaper reported.

"There are new proposals on the negotiation table, but I cannot speak
about details. Let me just say these are good suggestions and
Armenians must decide on their adoption," Kiniklioglu said.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

Kiniklioglu drew attention to the fact that Armenia has occupied the
land of a Council of Europe member – Azerbaijan. He added that the
issue of normalizing Turkish-Armenian ties hinges on the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"It’s useless and unrealistic to expect addressing problems between us
[Turkey and Armenia] via foreign forces," Kiniklioglu said.

In turn, Nalbandian denied Kiniklioglu ‘s allegations, saying rumors
of any new document are false, Armenia Today reported.