ARMENIAN FM: ANKARA FAILED TO LINK KARABAKH ISSUE TO ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 14, 2010 – 19:02 AMT 14:02 GMT
During Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting, Turkish Prime Minister attempted
to open a discussion on Karabakh conflict settlement. Once again
expressing official Yerevan’s position, Armenian side stated that
Armenia-Turkey rapprochement can’t be linked to Karabakh issue,
RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated.
"There’s no sense in discussing Karabakh issue with Turkey," he noted
at the briefing in Washington.
"Turkey can’t act as a mediator in Karabakh issue. Armenia will
never agree to concessions on Karabakh issue to normalize ties with
Turkey," Foreign Minister noted, adding that linking Karabakh conflict
settlement to Armenia-Turkey rapprochement would harm both processes,
a position shared by OSCE MG Co-Chairs.
"We launched reconciliation process based on mutual understanding
that setting preconditions is out of question. To affirm our mutual
understanding, we signed Armenia-Turkey rapprochement Protocols. If
currently Ankara’s position is altered, should we start questioning
whether we have a partner across the border to normalize ties with?"
As he emphasized, unless Turkey seeks to fail the process started,
it has to demonstrate its readiness to sign Protocols and normalize
ties without preconditions. "This is what international community
expects Turkey’s actions will be," Edward Nalbandian stressed.