Leader of Turkish opposition party said they are ready to negotiate with Armenians without preconditions.

Head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu commented on a remark of U.S. journalist who said the CHP’s policy regarding ties with Armenia was not different from that of the ruling Justice and Development Party. The journalist stressed that both parties were putting Armenia’s withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh as a precondition, reports Hurriyet Daily News newspaper.

“The difference between us and the AKP is that we see a possible withdrawal as a gesture, not a condition,” said party’s deputy chairman Osman Koruturk.

At the meeting with Armenian, Turkish and U.S. journalists, Kilicdaroglu also noted that he does not agree with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on this issue.

It is noteworthy that two political forces - Republican People’s Party and Nationalist Movement Party opposed signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

Certain changes occurred after Kilicdaroglu replaced party’s former leader Deniz Baykal who resigned after being involved in a sex scandal.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu dismissed from the party’s board and candidate lists a number of nationalists, including Onur Oymen and Canan Aritman known for their anti-Armenian stance.

Rumors have it that Kilicdaroglu’s mother had Armenian roots, this is used by the ruling party to tarnish his image.