In the Armenian-Turkish protocols, Turkey’s aim is mutual recognition of the border, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated at a budget discussion in the Turkish Parliament.

He assured the Parliament members that the document does not in any way affect turkey’s interests and pointed out that official Ankara attaches paramount importance to defending Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Minister Davutoğlu stated that Azerbaijan lost 20 per cent of its territory, and the status quo has been maintained for 17 years. In this context he pointed out that the situation will never change if it is not changed for the next ten years.

The Turkish FM stated that the Armenian-Turkish protocols are not a means of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations nor are they a means of establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is a way to the liberation of Azerbaijani territories.

The Hurriyet newspaper reported that Minister Davutoğlu also stated that steady progress in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process depends on the improvement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. In this context, he pointed out that the OSCE Minsk Group has intensified activities. Seven bilateral meetings have been held over the last six months. Ahmet Davutoğlu expressed hope that Turkey will thus play an important role in establishing peace in the Caucasus. Turkey’s ultimate aim is to improve its relations with Armenia. The Armenian-Turkish relations must be free of historical prejudice, Davutoğlu. In this context he pointed out the need for “blocking the way to ungrounded claims about genocide and for building up history on just memories.” The Turkish FM stressed the need for a new era in Armenian-Turkish relations and, in this context, for a historical commission and resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.