Turkey, Russia holding closed-door discussions on Armenia

January 8, 2010 - 13:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Turkish President Abdullah Gul revealed Tuesday that Turkey and Russia have been engaged in closed-door discussions concerning Armenia since Ankara and Yerevan signed the Turkey-Armenia protocols in October.

Gul made the revelation during an interview broadcast on CNN Turk. He stated that "silent, yet very active diplomacy" has been occurring between Turkey and Russia, focusing on a political settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"While we are raising the frozen conflicts, making the process open would only complicate it," Gul told CNN Turk, explaining why details of the discussions are being kept under wraps.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

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.