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TURKISH OPPOSITION SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PROTOCOLS
http://hetq.am/en/politics/18885/
2009/ 10/12 | 15:26
Politics
On the heels on Saturday's signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols,
members of the Turkish parliamentary opposition have expressed their
displeasure over the document. Many in Turkey see it as a reversal
for the country's foreign policy, especially in terms of the Karabakh
issue.
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur
Oymen told Today's Zaman that the protocol signed in Zurich is evidence
that Turkey has taken a step back in its fundamental foreign policy
regarding Armenia for the past 17 years.
Indicating that a process of normalization with Armenia can only take
place if Armenia withdraws from Azerbaijani territory, Oymen argued
that Turkey had made unilateral concessions with the agreement. "There
will be great pressure in Turkey following these signatures because
the protocol texts include articles about Turkey opening its border
and establishing diplomatic ties, but there is not even the slightest
sign that Armenia will withdraw from the territories it invaded. There
is not the slightest reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute,"
Oymen said.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said the day
the agreement was signed was a "black day." He said protocols signed
with Armenia were not based on reciprocity and that they were not
equal and balanced.
Felicity Party (SP) leader Numan Kurtulmuþ also joined the critics of
the protocol, describing it a "historic mistake." He said this issue
first being handled in Parliament, which represents the will of the
nation, was the necessity of democratic ethics. "The [Justice and
Development Party] AK Party's concessive attitude under the cover of
its 'zero problems policy' not only undermines Turkish foreign policy,
it also casts a shadow over Turkey's prestige," Kurtulmuþ said.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said Armenia's
withdrawal from Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh would help gain his
Parliament's approval for a peace accord signed between Turkey and
Armenia. "We as a government paved the way for this cooperation,
but whether or not it will be applied is up to Parliament to decide,"
he told a party congress in Ankara.
http://hetq.am/en/politics/18885/
2009/ 10/12 | 15:26
Politics
On the heels on Saturday's signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols,
members of the Turkish parliamentary opposition have expressed their
displeasure over the document. Many in Turkey see it as a reversal
for the country's foreign policy, especially in terms of the Karabakh
issue.
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur
Oymen told Today's Zaman that the protocol signed in Zurich is evidence
that Turkey has taken a step back in its fundamental foreign policy
regarding Armenia for the past 17 years.
Indicating that a process of normalization with Armenia can only take
place if Armenia withdraws from Azerbaijani territory, Oymen argued
that Turkey had made unilateral concessions with the agreement. "There
will be great pressure in Turkey following these signatures because
the protocol texts include articles about Turkey opening its border
and establishing diplomatic ties, but there is not even the slightest
sign that Armenia will withdraw from the territories it invaded. There
is not the slightest reference to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute,"
Oymen said.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said the day
the agreement was signed was a "black day." He said protocols signed
with Armenia were not based on reciprocity and that they were not
equal and balanced.
Felicity Party (SP) leader Numan Kurtulmuþ also joined the critics of
the protocol, describing it a "historic mistake." He said this issue
first being handled in Parliament, which represents the will of the
nation, was the necessity of democratic ethics. "The [Justice and
Development Party] AK Party's concessive attitude under the cover of
its 'zero problems policy' not only undermines Turkish foreign policy,
it also casts a shadow over Turkey's prestige," Kurtulmuþ said.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said Armenia's
withdrawal from Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh would help gain his
Parliament's approval for a peace accord signed between Turkey and
Armenia. "We as a government paved the way for this cooperation,
but whether or not it will be applied is up to Parliament to decide,"
he told a party congress in Ankara.