Armenian sources admit that Turkey-Armenia relations are related with Nagorno-Karabakh problem which caused closure of Turkey-Armenia border in 1993. On the other hand, they firmly reject to connect normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations to the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia for resolution of the Karabakh dispute. They stress that opinion of Armenia on this issue is told to President Abdullah Gul by President Serzh Sarksyan and to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. According to Yerevan, United States, Russia and Switzerland also supports the position of Armenia on not linking protocols and negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The major opinion in Armenia is that protocols which were signed just before April 24, last year were a political move of Ankara to prevent recognition of so called Armenian genocide resolutions. Armenia calls Turkey to ratify protocols in a reasonable time and to stop interfering Nagorno-Karabakh resolution process. Armenian officials leave messages of threat like, “If the current process of rapprochement fails, the disappointment in the Armenian community will lead Turkey-Armenia relations to regress for 15 or 20 years.”
Armenian Foreign Minister stated that there is sense of respect between Turkish and Armenian administrations. Nalbandian said, “We wouldn’t be able to come to present point without the support of Turkish administration. We can ratify protocols if both parties show political will. If we leave this burden for next generation, the resolution of the problem may get more complicated. We should deal with our historical responsibility and solve this problem.”
