Armenian FM warns Turkey against dead-end rapprochement steps

PanARMENIAN.Net - For 97 years, Turkey has been avoiding serious steps to normalize ties with Armenia and face its history, Armenian Foreign Minister said.

As Edward Nalbandian stated during a news conference with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, “if the Turkey continues with this line of action for the next 3 years, suggesting useless steps, the result is well-known.”

The Foreign Minister further commented on recent remarks by his Turkish counterpart. According to Ahmet Davutoglu’s statement, on the threshold of 100th anniversary of the Genocide, the official Ankara initiated a 3-step plan, including work with Armenian Diaspora, development of a new document and a new, subtler diplomacy with Armenia. However, to make the plan possible, Armenia must “pull troops from a part of Azeri territories,” Davutoglu said.

“In contrast to Ankara suggestions, the international community is suggesting another 3-step plan: ratification of Turkish-Armenian Protocols without preconditions, the document implementation and refusal from attempts to link rapprochement with Karabakh conflict settlement or interfere with the issue,” Armenian official said.