Turkish PM: Armenia must demonstrate sincerity in talks with Turkey - UPDATE

Armenia must demonstrate its sincerity in the process of normalizing relations with Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party, CNN Turk reported.

"At a meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, I openly stated Turkey's position in the process of normalizing relations with Armenia and the ratification of the Armenia-Turkish protocols. At the same time we want to see a sincere attitude of Armenia," Erdogan said, referring to the last meeting with Sargsyan in Washington.

Turkey is not the country that can "run away from the table of negotiations", Erdogan said.

"We do not avoid negotiations; on the contrary, we can hold them simultaneously with the Arab countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Balkan countries. Everything is done to establish stability and peace in the region. Turkey strives for peace in the Middle East and is ready to normalize relations with Armenia," Erdogan said.

According to Erdogan, during the meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington last week, the opportunity to bring Turkey's position in the process of normalizing relations with Yerevan to the U.S attention, and to express dissatisfaction with adoption of resolution on the so-called "Armenian genocide" by the U.S. Congress Committee on Foreign Relations, was given.  

Erdogan said that, Turkey's position in normalization of relations with Armenia is clear, and Ankara will take further steps based on this.

"The reason for closing of our borders in 1993 was the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. As long as the occupation persists, we will not open our borders", Erdogan said on Sunday to Turkish ATV channel.

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was behind the protocols signed with Armenia last year.

Speaking on Turkey's NTV channel on Sunday, Erdogan said that "the protocols carry a statement. The protocols refer to 'facilitating peace for the region'."

When you refer to regional peace, you have to consider the problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have to facilitate peace this time. The Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute was the reason for the closure of border gates, Erdogan said.

We have to solve the problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Unless we solve this problem, the Turkish Parliament will not say 'yes' to the protocols. We do not wish to see a negative decision by the Turkish Parliament. As such, we are preparing the necessary platform in the parliament, Erdogan said.

Touching on Iran's nuclear program, Erdogan said that Turkey had made all necessary warnings to Iran on the matter.

A country can erect a nuclear power plant for peaceful purposes. It is a natural right of any country to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. However, we do not wish to see nuclear arms in our region, Erdogan pointed out.


/World Bulletin, Trend/