Armenia- Turkey Protocols signed October 10 by the Foreign Ministers is “Turkish peace project”, stated Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Azerbaijani Trend news agency reports, referring to Turkish TRT1 TV channel.

“Signing of the agreement does not mean that we leave Azerbaijan. We always supported Azerbaijan and were side by side. We will never harm its interests. While speaking about peace in the region, we mean liberation of Azerbaijani territories,” Turkish Foreign Minister said, adding that “It is necessary to release Azerbaijani occupied territories, not only Karabakh but other occupied regions.”

“If the Turkish Parliament ratifies signed protocols, diplomatic relations will be launched. The words that Turkey does not recognize Armenia as the state are slander. Turkey recognizes Armenia and the borders were opened till 1993. Occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia was the reason to close the borders,” Davutoglu underlined.

Yesterday Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmet Davutoglu signed the Armenia-Turkey Protocols in Zurich. The documents should be ratified by both countries’ Parliaments. As NEWS.am already reported signing ceremony took place in tensed atmosphere. Turkish delegation tried to include a number of thesis related to Karabakh conflict in their final statement. According to the position of official Yerevan and international mediators, Karabakh peace process and Armenia-Turkey rapprochement are not linked. After the protests of Armenian side and interference of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the problem was solved. In particular, both sides decided not to make final statements and left immediately after signing ceremony.

Armenian authorities have repeatedly stated that the Protocols were prepared by Yerevan. Moreover, according to Armenian side’s position, the reconciliation process was initiated by RA President Serzh Sargsayn and was called “football democracy” after Turkish President Abdullah Gul was invited to Yerevan to watch Armenia-Turkey qualifying football match.