“I told Barack Obama that reaching the Turkish-Armenian normalization is difficult without solving the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh”.
Turkey’s Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with US President Barak Obama in Washington DC. According to APA’s Washington DC correspondent, the meeting between Obama and Erdogan took longer than it was planned. A number of Turkish ministers including foreign affairs minister Davudoglu participated in the negotiations process. According to APA’s Washington DC correspondent, Erdogan noticed after his meeting with Obama, that he was trying to convince US administration that reaching the Turkish-Armenian normalization is difficult without solving the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Erdogan told APA correspondent, that during his meeting with Obama, he explained him the Caucasus model: “I explained him, that in order to reach a long-term peace in this region, one has to solve all the unresolved issues, all the conflicts. And if the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is not solved, then there is no opportunity for this long-term peace”.
Erdogan says that just some years before Turkey itself was in the middle of conflicts, while now Turkey is a great supporter of peace in the world.
At a press-conference after the meeting with Obama Turkish prime-minister spoke about Turkey-Armenian rapprochement. An Armenian journalist told him, that Turkey is not keeping its word about the Turkey-Armenian normalization. Erdogan answered that when the protocols were signed, there wasn’t any condition, but in order to pass something in Turkish parliament any issue must be under conditions. Such a condition is probably Nagorno-Karabakh, as Turkish parliament is very sensitive for this issue.
Answering on APA’s correspondent’s question, what would be the future of the normalization protocols, if they reach Turkish parliament, Erdogan said that neither he, or anyone else of the government can dictate the parliament – this is an independent body: “But I can suppose that Nagorno-Karabakh is a very sensitive issue for our parliament”.
During his visit to Washington DC, Erdogan also discussed NABUCO, Cyprus, Iran’s nuclear program, and Israel-Palestine conflict, Iraq, NATO and Afghanistan.
Speaking of Iran’s nuclear problem, Erdogan stated that Turkey is ready to be a mediator between USA and Iran. He also said all the countries should abandon nuclear weapons.
He also mentioned Turkey isn’t currently planning to increase the number of its forces in Afghanistan, but however is ready to participate in other operations.
During his visit to US prime-minister also addressed with a speech at Turkish organization SETA. Azerbaijani ambassador to US participated in one of the events organized by Turkish delegation.
APA
