It Is Not Constructive to Link Armenian-Turkish Relations with Armenian-Azerbaijani Ones: Mirzoyan

We are pleased to hear statements from the highest leadership of Turkey regarding their readiness to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and open the Armenia-Turkey border. This was stated by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart.

“On the other hand, we see differences in approaches in that, although Turkey continually states that the process of normalization should happen without any preconditions, we periodically see a connection between the Armenia-Turkey normalization process and the Armenia-Azerbaijan process. This is a connection that Turkey tries to find or emphasizes on every occasion. We do not consider this constructive. There are certain differences in the sense that we have different perceptions regarding the pace; nevertheless, it is welcome to hear that Turkey is ready to open the closed border with Armenia,” said Mirzoyan.

He noted that the Armenian authorities believe in the peace process. Do you think that it is impossible to overlook the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the context of the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations? We are convinced that these negotiations should take place within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship; this is the international format that has been established for finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict. Negotiations are ongoing on issues of delimitation and demarcation, although at this stage, it would be somewhat exaggerated to call them negotiations; the process has been initiated. It would be wrong to say that there is a complete understanding, but I want to say that there is positive movement,” noted Ararat Mirzoyan.