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Turkish parliamentarians send strong messages on protocols signed with Armenia

21 October 2009 16:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The parliament of Turkey held tense discussions over the protocols signed with Armenia. According to APA, following the foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu and MHP, CHP and DTP faction leadersâ€™ speeches, other members of the parliament were allowed two minutes to express opinion. MHP parliamentarians sent strong messages to the government.

Kamil Sipahi (MHP) focused attention on the foreign minister Davutogluâ€™s words that the Turkish flags in Baku Martyrdom were entrusted to the honor of Azerbaijani people. He reminded about the Bursa events and asked the minister what he thinks about the honor of those people who ordered to collect and to throw Azerbaijani flags before the football match in Bursa.

Retired General Kurshad Atilgan from MHP said the protocols damaged the relations with Azerbaijan. He said closing of borders with Armenia was the strongest method of pressure by Turkey. â€œThe opening of borders will promote the development of Armeniaâ€™s economy. If Armenia doesnâ€™t leave Karabakh under its poor economic conditions, how it will leave after the opening of borders? Do you keep Prime Minister Erdoganâ€™s promise in Azerbaijan? Do you guarantee not to open the borders until the liberation of Karabakh?â€

MHPâ€™s Shenol Bal asked why the protocols were signed in Switzerland, which recognized the so-called â€œArmenian genocideâ€.

CHPâ€™s Canan Aritman reminded about the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyanâ€™s statement in USA. According to her, Sargsyan said the joint commission would investigate not the issue of genocide, but the issue of legacy of Armenians expelled from Turkey and compensation for losses of â€œgenocide victimsâ€. â€œThe Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance is described in the Armenian national strategy as a greatest threat. They aimed to breach this alliance and they achieved it. The protocols were not advantageous for us, but we already see their damages. The issue of flag and increase of gas price can be an example for thatâ€.

MHPâ€™s Kadir Unal reminded about the criminal responsibility for denying of so-called â€œArmenian genocideâ€ in Switzerland and asked Davutoglu: â€œWhy did you visit it, did you recognize the genocide? You say that there will be a Swiss historian in the joint commission. Will the Swiss historian say that the genocide took place?â€

MHP parliamentarian Hamza Hamid Homrish from Bursa said he witnessed the happenings in the city, the policemen beat those who wanted to enter the stadium with Azerbaijani flags.
â€œYou banned Azerbaijanâ€™s flag in Bursa under the mask of FIFA. But Azerbaijanis hoisted Turkish flag in the match that was taking place simultaneously in Baku. The Minister says that Turkish flags in Baku were entrusted to the honor of the Azeris. Azeris did not ask, but I ask you: Werenâ€™t the Azerbaijani flags, which were thrown into the dustbin in Bursa, had been entrusted to your honor?â€ he said.

Ahmet Davutoglu was given the floor again to answer the critical remarks. He refuted the accusations that Turkish government is ruled from abroad.
â€œTurkish government does not get instructions from abroad, it passes decisions in Ankara. It was so in the past and has not changed. You have the right to criticize, but it is unethical to say that Turkish government is ruled from abroad. This process is the will of Turkey,â€ he said.

The Minister underlined that the happenings in Bursa have nothing to do with the countryâ€™s foreign policy.
â€œThe problem of flags was investigated under the instruction of our government and the governor announced the results of this investigation. Regarding it as disrespect to Azerbaijan is a great blow to our relations with Azerbaijan. I will leave for Baku tomorrow and meet with the officials. I will defend Azerbaijanâ€™s interests till the end,â€ he said.