The call to demolish the monument to the Armenian-Turkish friendship in Kars is a political move of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to the upcoming parliamentary elections in June, Turkish MP from Nationalist Movement Party Senol Bal told Trend News agency.

“Making the statement to demolish the monument, the Prime Minister uses discontent of the local population with the existence of this monument and its location in Kars in his political struggle. This monument has been standing there for several years, and it was remembered only now - before the elections. All of these are a political shows,” she said.

As NEWS.am reported previously, during his last visit to Kars Erdogan called the monument to Armenian-Turkish friendship “monstrous” and said it should be dismantled.

At the Jan. 14 press conference, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian expressed his regret over the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statements. “This statement is a new obstacle to Armenia-Turkey rapprochement,” the minister stressed.

In response, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said statements by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the monument should be removed, have solely aesthetic motives, they have no political agenda.