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Armenian foreign ministry commented on the refusal to grant visas to the Turkish observers

Armenia Materials 10 May 2007 17:07 (UTC +04:00)

( Mediamax ) - The spokesman of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Karapetian, described Turkey's decision to send observers for the parliamentary elections in Armenia as, "a bit disingenuous".

Mediamax reported that Vladimir Karapetian said this, relating to official Yerevan refusing to grant visas to eight representatives of Turkey, who were going to observe the parliamentary elections in Armenia on May 12 within the OSCE Mission.

" Turkey maintains a closed border with Armenia and refuses to establish diplomatic relations. Under these circumstances, expecting to send observers is a bit disingenuous", Vladimir Karapetian stated. According to him, " Armenia regrets that Turkey did not demonstrate sensitivity in relation to its citizen's representatives participating in the OSCE observer mission to Armenia, given the absence of relations between our two countries. Turkey cannot choose and select which kinds of political relations it wishes to have with Armenia, and which it does not. Political and diplomatic relations are not entered into selectively", Vladimir Karapetian.

" Armenia understands the concern of OSCE members regarding Armenia's OSCE commitments, and reaffirms that we remain faithful to those. But we believe that participating states will also expect Turkey to adhere to its commitments and engage in normal, neighborly relations with Armenia", the official representative of the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated.

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