Turkish MFA sees no problem in Ankara’s ‘Armenian initiative’

PanARMENIAN.Net -
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that there is no problem with Turkey's ‘Armenian initiative’.



Burak Ozugergin, a spokesperson for the Ministry, told reporters that the Armenian-Turkish dialogue is in trouble over the RA Constitutional Court’s ruling. “Turkey’s position has not changed. The Ministry’s Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu will visit Switzerland and the United States in coming days to express Turkey's concerns on the issue," he said.



As to Karabakh conflict settlement, Ozugergin said some progress was fixed during the recent days. “There is slight hope that the sides will take concrete steps towards resolution," Ozugergin said, Anatolian News Agency reported.



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 “the decision 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.



The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in 1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.