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Turkish Foreign Minister makes speech in parliament concerning protocols signed with Armenia

21 October 2009 15:07 (UTC +04:00)

Davutoglu said there are frozen crises in the South Caucasus that may blast like a bomb any moment.
â€œUnfortunately, there is no ground for a political dialogue to solve the problems in the South Caucasus. With the exception of the projects implemented jointly by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, mutual economic relations covering the whole region, bringing the nations closer are very weak. Cultural relations are also very weak in the region. Being a state and nation determining the fate of the Caucasus for centuries we can not ignore this situation. We want to change, reform this situation with the principle â€œPeace at home, peace in the worldâ€ basing on the political dialogue, mutual economic relations and cultural diversity,â€ he said.

According to Ahmet Davutoglu, the current situation in the region does not favor Azerbaijan, Armenia or Turkey.
â€œThe territories of Azerbaijan is under occupation for 17 years. Armenia seemingly achieved military success, but is growing poor, its people leave the country. We feel the troubles of Azerbaijani people. We want to change the status-quo in the region, in order to prevent new risks,â€ he said.

Turkish Minister said Turkeyâ€™s relations with Armenia have three goals.
â€œThe first goal is to establish kind neighborhood relations, the second to eliminate the problems between Turkish and Armenian people, who coexisted for centuries, the third goal is to pave the way for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict basing on the norms of the international law and the principle of territorial integrity,â€ he said.

Davutoglu said first target was reached and the protocols reflected recognition of borders on the basis of international treaties and respect to the territorial integrity of the countries. â€œNo one in Armenia can claim to the territories of Turkey. Armenia confirmed it in the protocols that it was impossible legally. There are only two international agreements on the recognition of existing borders â€“ Moscow and Kars treaties. The Kars treaty was signed between USSR, Soviet Armenia, Soviet Azerbaijan and Soviet Georgia. Present Armenia is a legal heir of Soviet Armenia. Former Soviet republics declared in Almati in 1991 that they keep loyalty and recognize all international documents signed by USSRâ€.

Talking about the second goal, the minister said the protocols considered establishing of joint commission to investigate historic issues â€“ so-called and false genocide claims. He noted that this commission will research the archive materials on the scientific basis and Armenia accepted it.

Touching upon the third goal, Davutoglu said solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict is going in parallel with the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. â€œThe protocols describe loyalty to peaceful solution to the conflicts based on the international norms. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is important for us like the territorial integrity of Turkey. There is no country, which makes efforts as much as we do. We bring the Karabakh issue on agenda in every international meeting we hold. We will make all efforts for solution of Karabakh problem. The normalization can not be only between two countries, it should cover whole regionâ€.

Members of the parliament from the opposition protested the Davutogluâ€™s speech.