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MULTIMEDIA
May 27, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 

Davutoğlu conveys Turkey’s concerns to Sarksyan

Ahmet Davutoğlu
27 February 2010 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan had a comprehensive discussion on developments in the Caucasus and the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations during a meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, the Anatolia news agency reported on Thursday.

Davutoğlu was in Kiev to attend the inauguration of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Following the meeting, Davutoğlu told reporters that he had expressed the Turkish side’s concerns to Sarksyan during the meeting. “We also discussed what should be done in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I had the chance to convey our concerns, views and vision for the region to Sarksyan,” he said.

Speaking about the ideal Caucasus that Turkey would like to see, Davutoğlu said Turkey wants a Caucasus that does not suffer from closed borders, occupation or prejudice, but which has peace, prosperity and stability. “There must be dialogue to realize this vision,” he added. Surprisingly, the Armenian presidential administration reported that President Sarksyan had no meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, saying only that “Davutoğlu just approached President Sarksyan and they had an exchange of views.” During the meeting Sarksyan reportedly emphasized that political will is needed to move forward. Armenia feels the ongoing process should be brought to a conclusion within a short period of time; otherwise, as reported previously, Armenia will withdraw its signature from the protocols.

President Sarksyan reiterated that Turkey’s engagement in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does not appear to be possible as Turkey positions itself as a country unilaterally providing military aid to one of the conflicting sides, Azerbaijan, and always makes “biased announcements” over the settlement of the conflict.

While attending a reception following the oath-taking ceremony, Davutoğlu also spoke of Turkish-Ukrainian relations. Davutoğlu said Ukraine was a very important neighboring country for Turkey. “Ukraine has been going through a critical process due to domestic political developments,” he said, adding that political stability and domestic peace in Ukraine were important for Turkey’s regional policy. Noting that he had met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, and discussed the steps they would take for the future, Davutoğlu said he would pay an official visit to Ukraine within the next few months.

“We consider 2010 to be a year during which stability will be restored in Ukraine and relations between Turkey and Ukraine will be further strengthened,” Davutoğlu said.

On the sidelines of his visit to Ukraine, Davutoğlu also met with US National Security Adviser James Jones and the Swiss chief of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Micheline Calmy-Rey, on Thursday.

Davutoğlu and Jones discussed Turkish-US relations, Iran’s nuclear program and the developments taking place in the Caucasus. Davutoğlu and Calmy-Rey talked about the new Turkish president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and issues on the council’s agenda. Furthermore, Davutoğlu and Calmy-Rey discussed the recent developments between Turkey and Armenia vis-a-vis the protocols signed last year.

Davutoğlu and Calmy-Rey also touched on a ban on minarets in Switzerland, an issue on which Foreign Minister Davutoğlu conveyed Turkey’s sensitivity.

 
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© Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş. 2007, Ahmet Taner Kışlalı Cad. No: 6, Bahçelievler - İstanbul 34194 Turkey, +90 (212) 454 1454, +90 (212) 454 1497(fax)