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TURKEY REBUFFS US CALL TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
armradio.am
06.06.2012 13:44
Ankara has rebutted a statement by the United States calling on Turkey
to take steps to normalize its relations with Armenia, citing the
Armenian Constitutional Court's previous rulings on the two countries'
diplomatic protocols.
"Turkey's position on the issue is clear," a Turkish diplomat told the
Hurriyet Daily News, adding that the Armenian court's Jan. 12 decision
established that the protocols conformed to the country's constitution.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Turkey to normalize
relations with Armenia, speaking to journalists in Yerevan on June 4,
saying "the ball is in Turkey's court."
"We are committed to seeing Armenia and Turkey normalize relations
because we think this is a better path forward for the citizens of
both countries and we strongly support ratification of the protocols
without preconditions," she said. "We believe these are countries
that should have open borders, should work together, should trade,
and they should have people to people exchanges because it would be
mutually beneficial to all concerned."
The Turkish diplomat also cited a provision of Armenia's Declaration
of Independence, which was referenced in the Armenian court ruling as
problematic for Turkey. That provision states: "The Republic of Armenia
stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition
of the 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."
armradio.am
06.06.2012 13:44
Ankara has rebutted a statement by the United States calling on Turkey
to take steps to normalize its relations with Armenia, citing the
Armenian Constitutional Court's previous rulings on the two countries'
diplomatic protocols.
"Turkey's position on the issue is clear," a Turkish diplomat told the
Hurriyet Daily News, adding that the Armenian court's Jan. 12 decision
established that the protocols conformed to the country's constitution.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Turkey to normalize
relations with Armenia, speaking to journalists in Yerevan on June 4,
saying "the ball is in Turkey's court."
"We are committed to seeing Armenia and Turkey normalize relations
because we think this is a better path forward for the citizens of
both countries and we strongly support ratification of the protocols
without preconditions," she said. "We believe these are countries
that should have open borders, should work together, should trade,
and they should have people to people exchanges because it would be
mutually beneficial to all concerned."
The Turkish diplomat also cited a provision of Armenia's Declaration
of Independence, which was referenced in the Armenian court ruling as
problematic for Turkey. That provision states: "The Republic of Armenia
stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition
of the 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."