Azernews.Az

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian has claimed Turkey should stop what he called interference with the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict "if it indeed wants the conflict to be resolved."
Speaking to a group of journalists who have returned from Turkey, Nalbandian reiterated that Yerevan sees no link between Garabagh settlement and normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations. He alleged that linking the two issues threatens to derail both processes.
Nalbandian maintained that Ankara’s statements that Yerevan should display goodwill in the conflict resolution are unfounded. "If there weren’t such goodwill, numerous meetings would not have been held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents."
After decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich on October 10. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments. Moreover, Ankara has ruled out their approval in the Grand National Assembly and the border opening before progress is made in the Garabagh conflict that Azerbaijan, Turkey, ally, faces with Armenia, which has been occupying a part of Azerbaijan’s territory since the early 1990s.
Nalbandian said normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations could be beneficial for the entire region, including Azerbaijan. He claimed further: "Everyone in the world except Azerbaijan has applauded the normalization process between the two countries. Azerbaijan is driven by emotions on this issue."
Nalbandian emphasized that Yerevan hopes for parliamentary approval of the reconciliation protocols in an acceptable timeframe. "We signed the protocols in order to ratify and enforce them, and to head toward a normalization of relations between our countries."
According to him, it would have been impossible to start this process and reach the point of signing documents, overcoming all challenges, "if it weren’t for the willingness and political will of the two sides."
"Today we have the signed protocols and hope these documents will be ratified in a reasonable timeframe. And a reasonable timeframe means that neither side will be causing artificial problems, complexities, obstacles, and putting forth pre-conditions," Nalbandian said, in an apparent swipe at Ankara.
Nalbandian added that if either side attempts to hamper this process and poses hurdles, it will be essentially disrespecting not only the agreements reached on the bilateral level but also its commitments to the world community.*