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FM DAVUTOGLU MEETS WITH NALBANDIAN IN SIGN OF THAW WITH ARMENIA
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Dec 12 2013
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met with his Armenian counterpart,
Eduard Nalbandian, in the first high-level visit from Turkey to Yerevan
in five years, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
During his one-day visit to Yerevan, where he arrived to attend the
BSEC's 29th assembly of foreign ministers, Davutoglu had a meeting with
Nalbandian, a move that can be seen as significant for the restoration
of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan -- who have been at
odds over allegations of genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Davutoglu visited Yerevan for the purpose of joining the BSEC meeting;
however, his trip can be read as an important step regarding relations
that have been stalled since 2009 over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
An Armenian diplomat who wished to remain anonymous said that the
two-hour meeting between the two foreign ministers took place in
the afternoon.
At the BSEC meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoglu called for the
strengthening of trade cooperation between countries in the Black Sea
region. He said that as a key solution for economic problems in the
world, regional cooperation will pave the way for better opportunities
in the region.
Speaking before the meeting with Davutoglu, Nalbandian told the
reporters that relations between Turkey and Armenia should be
normalized without any preconditions.
He said the stance of Armenia and the international community on the
normalization of relations is obvious. "Turkey linking normalization
with other issues makes no sense and won't yield any results," he said.
Nalbandian also said that Armenian officials are supposed to hold
meetings with all the member states' delegation heads, including the
Turkish delegation.
On the BSEC, Davutoglu underlined that it is an organization
in a highly strategic region and it will play an important role
regarding the bridge to be built between Asia and Europe. He noted
that connecting the Balkans and the Caucasus via transportation and
trade projects will turn the Black Sea into a basin of peace.
A reconciliation process was launched between Turkey and Armenia in
2009, when the two sides signed twin protocols to normalize diplomatic
relations, but the move was not well received by Azerbaijan. The
protocols, signed in Zurich, shook Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,
as the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan has yet to be resolved.
Foreign Minister Davutoglu had a tete-a-tete with his Bulgarian
counterpart Kristian Vigenin and congratulated him on Bulgaria taking
the BSEC's presidency for the next term. According to news agency
reports, Davutoglu said Turkey and Bulgaria can work together much
more closely under Bulgaria's BSEC presidency. Vigenin also reportedly
underlined that Bulgaria placed importance on cooperation with Turkey.
Reports said that Davutoglu and Vigenin mainly discussed bilateral
ties between their two countries. They revised the preparations of a
joint commission that will be made in Sofia under the presidencies
of the undersecretaries of their ministries. The situation in the
Balkans and the Syrian crisis were also discussed during the foreign
ministers' meeting.
During the BSEC meeting, Davutoglu posted on Twitter that Turkey will
continue to be active on resolving the problems that surround it,
as it did in the past. He said he hopes that his visit to Yerevan
will contribute to peace and economic stability in the Black Sea and
the Caucasus.
The foreign minister was greeted by protests from several groups
upon his arrival on Thursday morning. Early in the day, protesters
gathered in front of the hotel where Davutoglu was set to attend the
BSEC meeting of foreign ministers. Protesters shouted slogans and held
placards in English and Armenian condemning Turkey for its stance
against the 1915 incidents. Security forces clashed with protesters
when they insisted on moving toward the building. Davutoglu entered
the hotel through the backdoor.
Speaking to the Cihan news agency, a protester who identified
himself as Gerafin Vartanyan said that Turkey should accept the
"Armenian genocide." "Even though Turkey doesn't accept [that it
carried out genocide], other countries have agreed on this. Besides
we want our territories back," he said. He stressed that Turkey's
"policy of creating problems" has affected Armenia negatively,
referring to Turkey closing its border with Armenia and taking sides
with Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
A socialist party member also told Cihan that they are protesting
Turkey's policy of creating problems. He reportedly said Turkey isn't
taking any steps forward for better ties, but Armenia wants to get
along with its neighbors. "Turkey doesn't want to accept 'genocide'.
It gives support to Azerbaijan and prevents our borders from being
open and this affects us negatively," Cihan reported him as saying.
Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in a display of solidarity
with Azerbaijan on the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh region -- an
Azerbaijani territory occupied by Armenian troops in 1991.
US welcomes Davutoglu's Yerevan visit
The US Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US welcomed
Davutoglu's visit to Armenia, which has come after a long time
without contact.
Speaking at daily press briefings on Wednesday, Psaki said that the US
hopes the Turkish foreign minister's visit will provide an opportunity
for dialogue between regional leaders.
"We continue to urge both Turkey and Armenia to ratify the
normalization protocols and to pursue tangible steps, such as opening
the border that can help strengthen ties between neighbors and create
jobs and opportunity for the people of both countries. So we certainly
support the visit, and we're hopeful they'll be able to move the
process forward," she said.
Davutoglu's visit to Yerevan was the first high-level diplomatic
visit from Turkey since 2009. Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan,
then-foreign minister also visited Armenia in 2009 on the sidelines of
the BSEC. The normalization protocols followed Babacan's Armenia visit.
Two Turkish journalists of Armenian origin, columnist Markar Esayan
and Rober KoptaĆ~_, the editor-in-chief of the Armenian weekly Agos,
accompanied Davutoglu during his trip to the capital city.
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Dec 12 2013
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met with his Armenian counterpart,
Eduard Nalbandian, in the first high-level visit from Turkey to Yerevan
in five years, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organization of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
During his one-day visit to Yerevan, where he arrived to attend the
BSEC's 29th assembly of foreign ministers, Davutoglu had a meeting with
Nalbandian, a move that can be seen as significant for the restoration
of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan -- who have been at
odds over allegations of genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Davutoglu visited Yerevan for the purpose of joining the BSEC meeting;
however, his trip can be read as an important step regarding relations
that have been stalled since 2009 over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
An Armenian diplomat who wished to remain anonymous said that the
two-hour meeting between the two foreign ministers took place in
the afternoon.
At the BSEC meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoglu called for the
strengthening of trade cooperation between countries in the Black Sea
region. He said that as a key solution for economic problems in the
world, regional cooperation will pave the way for better opportunities
in the region.
Speaking before the meeting with Davutoglu, Nalbandian told the
reporters that relations between Turkey and Armenia should be
normalized without any preconditions.
He said the stance of Armenia and the international community on the
normalization of relations is obvious. "Turkey linking normalization
with other issues makes no sense and won't yield any results," he said.
Nalbandian also said that Armenian officials are supposed to hold
meetings with all the member states' delegation heads, including the
Turkish delegation.
On the BSEC, Davutoglu underlined that it is an organization
in a highly strategic region and it will play an important role
regarding the bridge to be built between Asia and Europe. He noted
that connecting the Balkans and the Caucasus via transportation and
trade projects will turn the Black Sea into a basin of peace.
A reconciliation process was launched between Turkey and Armenia in
2009, when the two sides signed twin protocols to normalize diplomatic
relations, but the move was not well received by Azerbaijan. The
protocols, signed in Zurich, shook Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,
as the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan has yet to be resolved.
Foreign Minister Davutoglu had a tete-a-tete with his Bulgarian
counterpart Kristian Vigenin and congratulated him on Bulgaria taking
the BSEC's presidency for the next term. According to news agency
reports, Davutoglu said Turkey and Bulgaria can work together much
more closely under Bulgaria's BSEC presidency. Vigenin also reportedly
underlined that Bulgaria placed importance on cooperation with Turkey.
Reports said that Davutoglu and Vigenin mainly discussed bilateral
ties between their two countries. They revised the preparations of a
joint commission that will be made in Sofia under the presidencies
of the undersecretaries of their ministries. The situation in the
Balkans and the Syrian crisis were also discussed during the foreign
ministers' meeting.
During the BSEC meeting, Davutoglu posted on Twitter that Turkey will
continue to be active on resolving the problems that surround it,
as it did in the past. He said he hopes that his visit to Yerevan
will contribute to peace and economic stability in the Black Sea and
the Caucasus.
The foreign minister was greeted by protests from several groups
upon his arrival on Thursday morning. Early in the day, protesters
gathered in front of the hotel where Davutoglu was set to attend the
BSEC meeting of foreign ministers. Protesters shouted slogans and held
placards in English and Armenian condemning Turkey for its stance
against the 1915 incidents. Security forces clashed with protesters
when they insisted on moving toward the building. Davutoglu entered
the hotel through the backdoor.
Speaking to the Cihan news agency, a protester who identified
himself as Gerafin Vartanyan said that Turkey should accept the
"Armenian genocide." "Even though Turkey doesn't accept [that it
carried out genocide], other countries have agreed on this. Besides
we want our territories back," he said. He stressed that Turkey's
"policy of creating problems" has affected Armenia negatively,
referring to Turkey closing its border with Armenia and taking sides
with Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
A socialist party member also told Cihan that they are protesting
Turkey's policy of creating problems. He reportedly said Turkey isn't
taking any steps forward for better ties, but Armenia wants to get
along with its neighbors. "Turkey doesn't want to accept 'genocide'.
It gives support to Azerbaijan and prevents our borders from being
open and this affects us negatively," Cihan reported him as saying.
Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in a display of solidarity
with Azerbaijan on the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh region -- an
Azerbaijani territory occupied by Armenian troops in 1991.
US welcomes Davutoglu's Yerevan visit
The US Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US welcomed
Davutoglu's visit to Armenia, which has come after a long time
without contact.
Speaking at daily press briefings on Wednesday, Psaki said that the US
hopes the Turkish foreign minister's visit will provide an opportunity
for dialogue between regional leaders.
"We continue to urge both Turkey and Armenia to ratify the
normalization protocols and to pursue tangible steps, such as opening
the border that can help strengthen ties between neighbors and create
jobs and opportunity for the people of both countries. So we certainly
support the visit, and we're hopeful they'll be able to move the
process forward," she said.
Davutoglu's visit to Yerevan was the first high-level diplomatic
visit from Turkey since 2009. Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan,
then-foreign minister also visited Armenia in 2009 on the sidelines of
the BSEC. The normalization protocols followed Babacan's Armenia visit.
Two Turkish journalists of Armenian origin, columnist Markar Esayan
and Rober KoptaĆ~_, the editor-in-chief of the Armenian weekly Agos,
accompanied Davutoglu during his trip to the capital city.