A process of reconciliation with neighboring Armenia is still under way despite obstacles, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said yesterday, warning that everyone will lose if the efforts collapse.
“The process has reached a certain point, and it is in no one’s interest to turn back,” Davutoğlu said in remarks broadcast on the private Habertürk television station. “It would not serve the interests of Turkey or Armenia -- or even Azerbaijan.”
Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October to normalize their relations, but the process hit a snag after Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey, protested the deal, warning that Turkish-Armenian rapprochement would damage regional stability if it takes place without progress in its territorial dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan in its war against Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. When Turkey said there would be no progress in its reconciliation efforts with Armenia without progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, Armenia responded by suspending the ratification process of the two protocols.
Davutoğlu said his government was aware the process would not proceed without difficulties. “What is important is not to take a step back in pessimism,” he added.
The foreign minister also commented on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Greece, which begins today. He said the trip will help “maximize” cooperation and obliterate the notion of tension between the two nations. “Our aim is not only to minimize tensions. We should maximize cooperation to such an extent that there will be no sense of tension in our minds,” he said, adding that “overcoming the psychological threshold” was the primary objective.
"WE SURELY WILL CHANGE THE FORTUNE OF THE CAUCASUS"
“One day an automobile will travel from Qars to Baku through Yerevan, Kalbajar and Aghdam calmly.
We surely will change the fortune of the Caucasus. We will realize psychological revolution in the Caucasus. For the implementation of this policy, first people who pursue this policy, must believe in it and then to convince others. We believe”, said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu in his interview to Haberturk. He touched upon abolishment of visa regime between Turkey and Russia too: “It is a revolutionary step. I hope that this summer Russian tourists will visit Turkey without visa. At the same time, Turkish businessmen working in Russia will be able to visit this country calmly. By the cooperation in energy sphere we eliminate the opinions on rivalry between Turkey and Russia in the Eurasia. We show the model of passage between rivalry and cooperation spheres”.
We surely will change the fortune of the Caucasus. We will realize psychological revolution in the Caucasus. For the implementation of this policy, first people who pursue this policy, must believe in it and then to convince others. We believe”, said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu in his interview to Haberturk. He touched upon abolishment of visa regime between Turkey and Russia too: “It is a revolutionary step. I hope that this summer Russian tourists will visit Turkey without visa. At the same time, Turkish businessmen working in Russia will be able to visit this country calmly. By the cooperation in energy sphere we eliminate the opinions on rivalry between Turkey and Russia in the Eurasia. We show the model of passage between rivalry and cooperation spheres”.
Today's Zaman, APA
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