Ankara criticizes Yerevan for blocking observers
Describing Armenia’s refusal to allow Turkish observers to monitor an election this month as “extremely unfortunate,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to evaluate Yerevan’s decision in light of whether it really has the intention of developing good neighborhood relations with Turkey.
Yerevan said on Monday it was not letting Turkish nationals join Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers at the May 12 parliamentary election because of the absence of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara. Noting that Armenia has constantly accused Turkey of avoiding steps toward dialogue between the two countries, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Levent Bilman said late on Monday that Armenia’s suspicion of the Turkish election observers, the appointment of whom should be considered “a confidence-building measure between the two countries,” was “an extremely unfortunate development for Armenia.” Earlier on Monday democracy watchdog the OSCE also voiced concern over Armenia’s approach, saying it didn’t comply with “the principles of transparency and objectivity.”

2007-05-09

Muhabir: Today’s Zaman