The diaspora is trying to benefit from the recent situation of Turkish-Armenian relations, but the Yerevan administration does not share the same view, Turkey's prime minister said Wednesday.
"The Armenian diaspora is working, but their efforts are aimed at gaining benefits from the situation. From what I see, the Armenian administration does not share these (efforts)," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters before his departure to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Erdogan said meetings between Turkey and Armenia continue at the lower ministerial levels, and it is aimed to gradually increase the level of these meetings. "We have always been sincere in our dealings (with the Armenian administration)," he added.
Erdogan also said he might meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Davos. "There are no obstacles that would hinder a meeting with Sargsyan, we may meet," he said. Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and their border has been closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the international community with the backing of the diaspora to admit the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey's call to investigate the allegations, and Armenia's invasion of 20 percent territory of Azerbaijan.
A warmer period began in relations when Turkish President Abdullah Gul paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September to watch a World Cup qualifying football match between the two countries on the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan. The two countries have been holding contacts at the minister level since.
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