"WE WILL HOST SARKSYAN WITH A TYPICAL TURKISH HOSPITALITY"

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 09:52

The Turkish people will meet and see off Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan with a typical Turkish hospitality, Turkish CNN Turk TV channel quoted Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyib Erdigan as saying at the meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Oct.13.

“We will meet, host and see off Sargsyan and others with a typical Turkish hospitality,” Erdogan said.

On Oct.12, the Armenian national football team arrived in the Turkish city of Bursa to participate in the match with Turkey as part of the World Cup qualifier to be held on Oct. 14, the Turkish media reported.

Erdogan believes the Turkish society will act as the citizens of the great country during the Turkey-Armenia football match.

“Some will pursue political interest, but I believe the Bursa residents will not pay attention to such kind of incitements,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan also expressed his confidence that the Turkey-Armenia football match will contribute to the normalization of the Turkey-Armenia relations.

“WHILE NORMALIZING RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, WE ACT WITHIN FRAMES OF MY SPEECH IN AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT”

In process of normalizing relations with Armenia we act within the frames of my speech at the Azerbaijani parliament, Turkish CNN Turk TV channel reported quoting Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyib Erdigan as saying at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Oct. 13.

If the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia are solved, process of normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations will be easier, Erdogan added.

Erdogan noted if the Turkish Parliament does not ratify the Armenia-Turkey protocols, the normalization of the Turkey-Armenia relations cannot be launched.

Erdogan also touched upon the issue of the Armenian diasporas’ protests against the normalization of the Turkey-Armenia relations.

Erdogan said, unfortunately, the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs were thus far fruitless.

“Although the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs repeatedly brought together the presidents of the two countries, it did not yield any fruit.”

Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich on Oct. 10.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia’s claims to recognize so-called “Armenian genocide” and Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands.