ARMENIA PROTOCOL TO BE SIGNED BEFORE MATCH: DAVUTOGLU

Thursday, 01 October 2009 09:14

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the protocol to normalize relations with Armenia would be signed before the soccer game between the Turkish and Armenian national teams.

Davutoglu held a news conference to discuss the U. N. General Assembly meetings in New York and the foreign policy agenda in October.

Asked whether the border crossing would be opened for a day for the game, Davutoglu said, “We need to assess the process to make a decision to open the border crossing.”

Turkey will play against Armenia on Oct. 14 in the World Cup European Group Five qualifying round to keep hopes alive of playing in the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

Replying to another question about the results of the elections in Germany, Davutoglu told reporters: “Those are the elections reflecting the free will of the German people. Therefore, we have to respect them. On the other hand, any election cannot cause a radical change in the rooted relations between Turkey and Germany. Turkey-EU relations are also based on international commitments. We do not suppose that the results of any elections could affect those commitments.”

Asked whether the problem regarding the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, deputies would be discussed during the meetings with the EU in October, Davutoglu said, “It is not possible to separate domestic and international developments from each other in today’s international conjuncture. Turkey is a state of law. And the norms of this state are certain. No one can have legal privileges. I hope that we will overcome this problem without a crisis.”

DAVUTOGLU HOPES NEXT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS WILL BE FRUITFUL

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu is looking forward to the next meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to be held in Chisinau.

On Oct. 9, Moldova will host the next summit of the CIS. The next round of talks between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan is expected to be held during the meetings.

The OSCE MG co-chairs will visit Azerbaijan in early October. In Baku, the MG will work on preparing a meeting between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, scheduled for October 10 in Chisinau, Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia)said.

“We pin great hopes at the Chisinau meeting of leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Davudoglu told CNN Turk TV channel on Sept.30.

So far, much has been done to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalize the Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, the minister said.