Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 19 / Trend , R. Hafizoglu /
A member of the Turkish Parliament believes that the protocols signed between Ankara and Yerevan gives hope to Armenia in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on its terms.
"Signing of the Ankara-Yerevan protocols encourages Armenia," the Turkish Parliamentarian and Member of the Republican People's Party of Turkey, Onur Oymen said to Trend over telephone from Ankara on Oct. 19.
Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers, Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocol in Zurich on Oct. 10.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's claims to recognize so-called "Armenian genocide" and Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani lands.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
The signed protocols will be submitted to the Turkish Parliament for discussions on Oct. 21.
Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference that it will be impossible to ratify the protocols at the parliament, until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved.
The Turkish President, Abdullah Gul said in his interview with TRT1 TV channel that there was progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The Turkish President also noted that Ankara's intention to normalize the diplomatic relations with Yerevan made the Nagorno-Karabakh problem which has been forgotten at the political arena for many years the topical.
There is progress in the settlement of the conflict, Gul said, not divulging what it was. The Turkish President added that the U.S. and Russia have the same opinion on this issue.
Turkey will not benefit from signing of the Ankara-Yerevan protocols, said Oymen.
"During signing of the Ankara-Yerevan, protocols Turkey had to demand official guarantees from Armenia in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. But it did not do it," he said. Oymen also believes that Turkey signed the protocols under pressure.
"The Turkish government has promised not to open the border, until the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is resolved. If there was no intention to open the border, it should not sign the protocols," he said.
According to Oymen, the signed protocols did not reflect the interests of the Turkish people.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at [email protected]