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[Semetoja]

ERDOGAN: ''IF ARMENIA FULFILLS ITS DUTIES, TURKEY WILL DO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A FAIR SOLUTION''

242 words

10 May 2005

ARKA - News (Armenia)

English

© 2005 ARKA News Agency

POLITICS

YEREVAN, May 10. /ARKA/. ''if Armenia fulfills its duties, Turkey will do what is required for a fair and lasting solution in terms of balances in the region,'' Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said before leaving for Russian capital Moscow late on Sunday to attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of end of the World War II upon the official invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When asked whether he would have a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Erdogan said, ''there is not a scheduled meeting now. There is not such a demand.''

''As you know, Turkey is one of countries which recognized Armenia after disintegration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. But there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Indicating that they opened Turkish air space to Armenia and flights between Yerevan and Istanbul started, he said, ''we have a positive attitude towards Armenian citizens in the country. We expect Armenia to overcome its problems with Azerbaijan.''

Recalling that the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which undertook the mission of mediation in the process to solve the Upper Karabakh issue, Erdogan said, ''we hope that they will reach positive results on this issue.''

The TDN News Agency reports that in Moscow Erdogan and Kocharyan shook hands, but did not talk. P.T.

Document ARKA000020050510e15a0018i

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