Erdogan: Progress of normalization with Armenia depends on Nagorno-Karabakh

Ensuring regional peace is among the cornerstones of Armenia and Turkey's efforts for normalized relations, so resolving a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan is naturally linked to this process, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week. After meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on the sidelines of a two-day nuclear security in Washington, Erdogan also had talks with US President Barack Obama, with the stalled normalization process between Turkey and Armenia as one of the main topics. During these meetings, Erdogan reiterated Turkey's commitment to the historic rapprochement protocols the two countries signed last fall, and asked the US to do more to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He also urged the avoidance of actions and statements which could derail the already delicate process. Speaking to reporters late Tuesday at the Washington Marriott Hotel for the opening of an exhibit of Ottoman-era maps, Erdogan dismissed Sargsyan's rejection of linking the Turkish-Armenian normalization process to resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Quoting from the protocols, Erdogan said, "There is a very important expression next to the phrase 'without preconditions': Building regional peace. Can you push Azerbaijan aside while building this regional peace?" Telling how Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, Erdogan said an agreement on the enclave is essential for opening the border, and repeated his call for greater efforts by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group. Erdogan also said no date had been set for parliamentary ratification of the protocols, but added if Turkey sees some positive signs from Armenia, this would speed up the process. Erdogan also said that he still believes Obama won't use the word "genocide" in his April 24 message marking Armenian Remembrance Day. "Personally, I don't expect such a thing," he said. "I believe the necessary messages have been mutually made," he added, referring to his meeting with Obama. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had separate talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian on the sidelines of the summit. Davutoglu told both Clinton and Nalbandian that Turkey remains committed to the normalization process, and is working to make further progress. Stressing that the Armenian issue should not be allowed to cast a shadow over Turkish-US relations every year, Davutoglu also urged the inclusion of Azerbaijan in the process. On Iran's controversial nuclear program, Davutoglu told Clinton that Turkey doesn't believe tougher sanctions on Iran would help solve the issue.