Turkey launches domestic discussions on Armenia ties
The Turkish government on Friday began domestic
consultations on the agreements recently reached with Armenia on
normalizing ties.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held the first such meeting with the country`s parliament speaker, Mehmet Ali Sahin. The discussions were sealed off to the press.
Davutoglu said this meeting formally launches political consultations on the protocols agreed with Armenia.
``Whatever step is taken in foreign policy, parliament is the venue for adding a legal shape to it. For this reason, I held my first meeting with the parliament speaker,`` he told reporters.
Ankara and Yerevan agreed on August 31 to begin discussions on forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations. The two countries announced they would complete domestic consultations over the two protocols within six weeks. The documents ultimately seek to open the Turkish-Armenian border, which has been shut since 1993 due to Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Armenian claims of genocide committed by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Davutoglu said he would comprehensively discuss Ankara`s policy on its relations with Yerevan with the leaders of all parties that have factions in the legislature and have gained over one percent of votes in elections.
The People`s Republic Party, Turkey`s main opposition bloc, has welcomed the suggestion to hold a meeting with the foreign minister. The minister and the party`s chairman, Deniz Baykal, met on Tuesday.
However, another major opposition party, the Nationalist Movement Party, has rejected the proposal to meet with Davutoglu.
The two parties are vehemently opposed to parliamentary approval of the protocols with Armenia, saying the documents run counter to Turkey`s national interests and those of Azerbaijan, the country`s ally.
Davutoglu intends to complete discussions with party leaders by the end of September, before the UN General Assembly session and the fall session of the Turkish parliament.
The Turkish minister said his country was seeking to maintain good relations with all regional states. He noted, however, that Armenia should take certain steps to allow Turkey to convince the opposition that forging diplomatic ties with Yerevan is appropriate.
``If Armenia wants the border to open as soon as possible, it should take certain steps, particularly with regard to the Garabagh problem,`` said Davutoglu.
He emphasized that ``the government`s mission will end with the passage of the six-week period, and the fate of these protocols will be decided in parliament.``
Under the agreement reached, the protocols to be signed will go into effect after their ratification at the Turkish and Armenian parliaments, while the border is expected to open two months the protocols are signed.
Protests
Activists of Armenia`s nationalist Dashnaksutyun Party launched a hunger strike outside the government building and the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday to protest the agreements with Turkey, the party said. Dashnaksutyun also intends to begin a signature collection campaign.
It said in a statement that its representatives will demand to redraft the protocols, which they consider a threat to Armenian interests.
The Armenian National Congress, led by opposition leader, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian, is opposed to the border opening. Levon Zurabyan, the organization`s coordinator, has told a news conference that the opposition was toughening its stance toward Turkey and launching protests. Zurabyan said Armenia`s authorities are making ``degrading concessions`` to Ankara, hinting at the planned establishment of an intergovernmental commission of historians, which the opposition says questions the alleged genocide of Armenians.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held the first such meeting with the country`s parliament speaker, Mehmet Ali Sahin. The discussions were sealed off to the press.
Davutoglu said this meeting formally launches political consultations on the protocols agreed with Armenia.
``Whatever step is taken in foreign policy, parliament is the venue for adding a legal shape to it. For this reason, I held my first meeting with the parliament speaker,`` he told reporters.
Ankara and Yerevan agreed on August 31 to begin discussions on forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations. The two countries announced they would complete domestic consultations over the two protocols within six weeks. The documents ultimately seek to open the Turkish-Armenian border, which has been shut since 1993 due to Armenia`s policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Armenian claims of genocide committed by Ottoman Turks during World War I.
Davutoglu said he would comprehensively discuss Ankara`s policy on its relations with Yerevan with the leaders of all parties that have factions in the legislature and have gained over one percent of votes in elections.
The People`s Republic Party, Turkey`s main opposition bloc, has welcomed the suggestion to hold a meeting with the foreign minister. The minister and the party`s chairman, Deniz Baykal, met on Tuesday.
However, another major opposition party, the Nationalist Movement Party, has rejected the proposal to meet with Davutoglu.
The two parties are vehemently opposed to parliamentary approval of the protocols with Armenia, saying the documents run counter to Turkey`s national interests and those of Azerbaijan, the country`s ally.
Davutoglu intends to complete discussions with party leaders by the end of September, before the UN General Assembly session and the fall session of the Turkish parliament.
The Turkish minister said his country was seeking to maintain good relations with all regional states. He noted, however, that Armenia should take certain steps to allow Turkey to convince the opposition that forging diplomatic ties with Yerevan is appropriate.
``If Armenia wants the border to open as soon as possible, it should take certain steps, particularly with regard to the Garabagh problem,`` said Davutoglu.
He emphasized that ``the government`s mission will end with the passage of the six-week period, and the fate of these protocols will be decided in parliament.``
Under the agreement reached, the protocols to be signed will go into effect after their ratification at the Turkish and Armenian parliaments, while the border is expected to open two months the protocols are signed.
Protests
Activists of Armenia`s nationalist Dashnaksutyun Party launched a hunger strike outside the government building and the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday to protest the agreements with Turkey, the party said. Dashnaksutyun also intends to begin a signature collection campaign.
It said in a statement that its representatives will demand to redraft the protocols, which they consider a threat to Armenian interests.
The Armenian National Congress, led by opposition leader, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian, is opposed to the border opening. Levon Zurabyan, the organization`s coordinator, has told a news conference that the opposition was toughening its stance toward Turkey and launching protests. Zurabyan said Armenia`s authorities are making ``degrading concessions`` to Ankara, hinting at the planned establishment of an intergovernmental commission of historians, which the opposition says questions the alleged genocide of Armenians.
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