Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reiterated Ankara position on Armenia-Turkey Protocols. According to him, reconciliation is linked with Karabakh peace process, Asbarez reports referring to Hurriyet Daily News.

The source quotes Davutoglu as saying, “Normalization at the bilateral level is linked with an improvement in the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Turkish-Armenian border has been closed for years but we are still trying to resolve this issue. If the same kind of good intention can be shown on the other issue, then it may reach a further level as well.”

Asked about Armenian officials’ statements that the protocols will be annulled if Turkey does not ratify them till April 2010, Turkish FM replied that “the issue should be dealt with via a ‘visionary’ approach instead of by enacting arbitrary deadlines”, the source says.

Davutoglu refuted rumors that he intends to visit Israel, confirming Ankara’s stance on Tel-Aviv actions in Gaza. He recalled the words of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, that world powers should force Israel to end Gaza’s blockade. FM wonders, “Should we now call Carter anti-Semitic for what he said?”

A.G.