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ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS CAN NORMALIZE AFTER LIBERATION OF AZERBAIJANI OCCUPIED LANDS: FM
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2013
12 December 2013, 18:40 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
The normalization of Ankara-Yerevan relations and the possibility
of reopening the Armenian-Turkish border is in the spotlight of
international community during the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutolu's visit to Armenia.
Davutoglu visited Yerevan to attend the Foreign Ministers Council
of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on
December 12.
Following the meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council,
Davutoglu met with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian,
Turkish media reported.
Davutoglu said Ankara supports the normalization of relations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey is ready to take all steps to
normalize these relations.
He said Ankara attaches special importance to the normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations, but it is possible only after the
liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Davutoglu was met with protests in Yerevan. The representatives of
Armenian youth and student unions gathered in front of the hotel,
where Davutoglu was to stop and shouted anti-Turkish slogans.
Commenting on the possibility of opening the Armenian-Turkish border,
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said on December
11 that Turkey closed its border with Armenia for two reasons.
He said the first reason was Armenia's territorial claims against
Turkey, and the second was the occupation of Azerbaijani lands
by Armenia.
"If we consider this issue today, we will see that nothing has
changed. Armenia still has a hostile attitude toward Turkey. Yerevan
has given up neither its open territorial claims toward Turkey,
nor its claims for 'recognition' of the 'Armenian genocide' in the
global scale," Khalafov said.
He went on to note that the Azerbaijani lands are still occupied and
the negotiations, held in this regard, have not brought any results.
Khalafov said the problem has not been resolved because of Armenia's
lack of constructive position on the issue.
"Armenia is not ready for a settlement. The reason for lack of
progress in the peace process is the lack of will from Armenian side,
in particular lack of political will," the diplomat said.
He went on to say that other neighboring countries must not remain
indifferent and should express their attitude to the aggressive policy
of Armenia.
"We believe that Iran and Russia must also exert pressure on Armenia
because the main cause of violating peace and stability in the region
today is Armenia's policy," Khalafov said.
He also said a new approach must be demonstrated on the international
plan, especially by France, Russia and the U.S, which have taken an
intermediary mission in the OSCE.
Khalafov added that the actions must be taken to promote this process.
The United States hailed Davutoglu's visit to Yerevan as a chance
for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
The U.S. State Department said Davutoglu's participation at the
meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council in Yerevan
can lead to a dialogue between the leaders of the regional states,
thus resulting in positive progress in Armenian-Turkish relations.
The Turkish Government has repeatedly stated that Ankara's position
with regard to the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
is clear and specific. Ankara says negotiations on the normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations can only come about after the liberation
of Azerbaijan's occupied territories.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus
neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2013
12 December 2013, 18:40 (GMT+04:00)
By Sara Rajabova
The normalization of Ankara-Yerevan relations and the possibility
of reopening the Armenian-Turkish border is in the spotlight of
international community during the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutolu's visit to Armenia.
Davutoglu visited Yerevan to attend the Foreign Ministers Council
of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on
December 12.
Following the meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council,
Davutoglu met with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian,
Turkish media reported.
Davutoglu said Ankara supports the normalization of relations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey is ready to take all steps to
normalize these relations.
He said Ankara attaches special importance to the normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations, but it is possible only after the
liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Davutoglu was met with protests in Yerevan. The representatives of
Armenian youth and student unions gathered in front of the hotel,
where Davutoglu was to stop and shouted anti-Turkish slogans.
Commenting on the possibility of opening the Armenian-Turkish border,
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said on December
11 that Turkey closed its border with Armenia for two reasons.
He said the first reason was Armenia's territorial claims against
Turkey, and the second was the occupation of Azerbaijani lands
by Armenia.
"If we consider this issue today, we will see that nothing has
changed. Armenia still has a hostile attitude toward Turkey. Yerevan
has given up neither its open territorial claims toward Turkey,
nor its claims for 'recognition' of the 'Armenian genocide' in the
global scale," Khalafov said.
He went on to note that the Azerbaijani lands are still occupied and
the negotiations, held in this regard, have not brought any results.
Khalafov said the problem has not been resolved because of Armenia's
lack of constructive position on the issue.
"Armenia is not ready for a settlement. The reason for lack of
progress in the peace process is the lack of will from Armenian side,
in particular lack of political will," the diplomat said.
He went on to say that other neighboring countries must not remain
indifferent and should express their attitude to the aggressive policy
of Armenia.
"We believe that Iran and Russia must also exert pressure on Armenia
because the main cause of violating peace and stability in the region
today is Armenia's policy," Khalafov said.
He also said a new approach must be demonstrated on the international
plan, especially by France, Russia and the U.S, which have taken an
intermediary mission in the OSCE.
Khalafov added that the actions must be taken to promote this process.
The United States hailed Davutoglu's visit to Yerevan as a chance
for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
The U.S. State Department said Davutoglu's participation at the
meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council in Yerevan
can lead to a dialogue between the leaders of the regional states,
thus resulting in positive progress in Armenian-Turkish relations.
The Turkish Government has repeatedly stated that Ankara's position
with regard to the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
is clear and specific. Ankara says negotiations on the normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations can only come about after the liberation
of Azerbaijan's occupied territories.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus
neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.