Tweet
ARMENIAN MP WORRIED BY EUROPES APPROACH TO TURKEY TIES
AssA-Irada
November 4, 2009 Wednesday
Azerbaijan
An Armenian lawmaker has voiced concern over European politicians
approach to the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations, saying they
link the process with the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. The statement was made by Stepan
Safaryan, head of the opposition Heritage faction in the Armenian
parliament, who has held meetings with European institutions officials
in Brussels and Strasbourg, Armenia Today news agency reported.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani
territory and past genocide claims. On October 10, in Zurich, the two
governments signed two protocols to establish diplomatic relations and
reopen their borders, in a bid to normalize their strained relations.
However, the documents require ratification in both countries
parliaments. Safaryan claimed that Turkey is considered by Europeans
today as a rising sun of the region, and the door is open to it to
co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, which is brokering settlement to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The lawmaker maintained that, by signing
the protocols with Armenia, Ankara aims to achieve a solution to
the Garabagh problem by next April and to impede recognition of the
alleged World War I-era genocide of Armenians in US Congress. Another
goal pursued by Turkey, he claimed, is turning into a regional leader.
For this reason Turkey will be delaying ratification of the protocols,
Safaryan alleged. Turkish officials have ruled out approval of the
documents in the Grand National Assembly before progress is made in
the Garabagh conflict.
AssA-Irada
November 4, 2009 Wednesday
Azerbaijan
An Armenian lawmaker has voiced concern over European politicians
approach to the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations, saying they
link the process with the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. The statement was made by Stepan
Safaryan, head of the opposition Heritage faction in the Armenian
parliament, who has held meetings with European institutions officials
in Brussels and Strasbourg, Armenia Today news agency reported.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border
with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani
territory and past genocide claims. On October 10, in Zurich, the two
governments signed two protocols to establish diplomatic relations and
reopen their borders, in a bid to normalize their strained relations.
However, the documents require ratification in both countries
parliaments. Safaryan claimed that Turkey is considered by Europeans
today as a rising sun of the region, and the door is open to it to
co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group, which is brokering settlement to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The lawmaker maintained that, by signing
the protocols with Armenia, Ankara aims to achieve a solution to
the Garabagh problem by next April and to impede recognition of the
alleged World War I-era genocide of Armenians in US Congress. Another
goal pursued by Turkey, he claimed, is turning into a regional leader.
For this reason Turkey will be delaying ratification of the protocols,
Safaryan alleged. Turkish officials have ruled out approval of the
documents in the Grand National Assembly before progress is made in
the Garabagh conflict.