Ahmet Davutoglu” opening of border with Armenia not discussed

July 18, 2010 - 19:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that opening of the border with Armenia is not discussed, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Davutoglu, who is currently in Kazakhstan for an informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), denied news reports which claimed that the border between Turkey and Armenia will be opened.

"Opening of the border is not discussed. These news stories are completely wrong," he said.

Davutoglu said he referred to the issue with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and told him that there is no such thing.

As to Karabakh conflict settlement, Davutoglu said, "talks will continue. I believe that a solution will be reached."

Earlier, the Spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Burak Ozugergin, said they are discreetly evaluating opening the Turkish-Armenian border temporarily for Armenia 2010 NATO exercise in September.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.