Interfax, Russia
Feb 14 2015
Yerevan objects to tying normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
to Karabakh settlement process
YEREVAN. Feb 14
The normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey cannot be
tied to the process of settling the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a
high-ranking source with the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax.
"Armenia adheres to a principled position that the normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relationship cannot be tied to the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is with this very conviction that we
started the process of normalization of our relations with Turkey, and
it is with this conviction and mutual understanding that we conducted
the negotiations and signed protocols," the source said.
"As for the Turkish prime minister's absurd proposal, this is obvious
progress for him, as earlier his request concerned two districts.
Perhaps it won't take him long to realize that the Karabakh settlement
process cannot be tied to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations," he said.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had said at an earlier meeting
with leaders of non-Muslim religious and secular organizations in
Ankara that Turkey could open its border with Armenia if the latter
returned at least one district to Azerbaijan.
From: A. Papazian
Feb 14 2015
Yerevan objects to tying normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
to Karabakh settlement process
YEREVAN. Feb 14
The normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey cannot be
tied to the process of settling the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a
high-ranking source with the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax.
"Armenia adheres to a principled position that the normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relationship cannot be tied to the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is with this very conviction that we
started the process of normalization of our relations with Turkey, and
it is with this conviction and mutual understanding that we conducted
the negotiations and signed protocols," the source said.
"As for the Turkish prime minister's absurd proposal, this is obvious
progress for him, as earlier his request concerned two districts.
Perhaps it won't take him long to realize that the Karabakh settlement
process cannot be tied to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations," he said.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had said at an earlier meeting
with leaders of non-Muslim religious and secular organizations in
Ankara that Turkey could open its border with Armenia if the latter
returned at least one district to Azerbaijan.
From: A. Papazian