Turkey's PM says Minsk Group negligent over Armenia issue

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied to questions of reporters at a TV program broadcast on TRT-1 channel.

Commenting on relations between Turkey and Armenia, Erdogan said that Turkey would not take a step back regarding the protocol it signed with Armenia in Switzerland.

Erdogan said that Russia, France and USA, which were the three co-chairs of the "Minsk Group", showed a major negligence in the process.

He said Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan would not be experiencing the current problems if those countries had taken the necessary actions over the last 20 years.

"United Nations (UN) confirmed Armenia's invasion as well. The problem will end once this invasion is over," Erdogan said.

Pointing to the 170,000 Armenian-origin people living in Turkey currently, Erdogan said nearly 70,000 of them were Turkish citizens, while the rest were living in the country illegally.

"We overlook this fact. Because, we do not want any tension," Erdogan said, adding that Armenia did not respond positively to Turkey's efforts.

Regarding Cyprus issue, Erdogan said the Greek Cypriot party did not have a positive approach like the Turkish Cypriots.

He said Turkey desired UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to assume an active role in the ongoing process in the island.

Commenting on the result of the Orams case as well, Erdogan said the United Kingdom had displayed a wrong stance and a major complacency in the case and Turkey had never approved such attitude.

/World Bulletin/