Turkish-Armenian ties: Gul and Erdogan hold conflicting views

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan differ on their opinions on Armenian-Turkish border opening. The politicians defend their views, with Gül saying normalizations would continue 'without preconditions' and PM asking Armenia to first end its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh.



On Friday last week, President Abdullah Gül said that normalization would proceed 'without preconditions," said David Phillips, a senior fellow with the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Atlantic Council of the United States. "During a television interview the next day, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey could open its border if Armenia lifts its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh." Phillips also said he welcomed Turkey and Armenia's joint April 23 move to announce a framework agreement for normalizing relations, but warned, "Progress will be measured by actions, not words."



Turkey closed its land border with Armenia in 1993 and has refused to establish diplomatic ties because of Karabakh conflict. "Turkey's national interests cannot be held hostage by Azerbaijan," Philips said.



"The United States, which strongly backs the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process, says the road map should be implemented without preconditions." "If the Turkish-Armenian deal fails, it would have serious repercussions on U.S.-Turkish relations," Philips added.