Turkish FM makes his first statement following signing of Turkey-Armenia protocols

"Despite signing was delayed, the principal thing for us is that protocols have been signed. Turkey knows where to proceed and what to do," minister said.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the protocol Ankara-Yerevan in Zurich on Oct. 10.

U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French and Swiss Foreign Ministers - Bernard Kushner and Micheline Calmy-Rey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana participated in the ceremony of signing.

"It is necessary to solve Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict to achieve peace in the region," Turkish FM said.

"Signing of the agreement does not mean that we abandon 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," Davutoglu said.

"It is necessary to free Azerbaijani occupied territories, not only Karabakh but other occupied regions," minister said.

"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 said.

/Trend News/