Hovhannes Igityan: Chavushoglu`s statement contradicts all statements  of the OSCE Minsk Group co- chairs

ArmInfo. Ankara constantly declares its influence on the region, and the meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs with Mevlut Cavusoglu is connected with the desire of  Turkey to take part in the settlement of the Karabakh issue.   Hovhannes Igityan, deputy chairman of the parliamentary Standing  Committee on Foreign Relation, said this in an interview with ArmInfo  correspondent.

He noted that the previous government made a big mistake by signing  the Zurich Protocols, which noted the role of Ankara in ensuring the  security of the region. Although, Igityan noted that today the  "Zurich Protocols", one way or another, have gone out of circulation.

"I think that the Armenian Foreign Minister quite accurately noted  what Turkey should do, it should heal itself. However, if we think  deeper what Cavusoglu wants and whether his approaches can help the  region, then we see that the statement by the Turkish Foreign  Minister contradicts not only the principles of the Minsk Group, but  also all the statements of the co-chairs in the entire history of the  OSCE Minsk Group, that is, Cavusoglu did not mention at least two  principles in his statement, namely, that the decision should be  subject to the right of peoples to self-determination as well as of  the other principle is that the conflict should be resolved  peacefully. What the Turkish Foreign Minister proposes only escalates  the situation, "the MP noted.  

According to Igityan, we should not take Chavushoglu's statement too  seriously. "A few years ago, Turkey announced its policy in the  region, according to which it should not have problems with  neighbors. But, today, it is difficult to find neighbors with whom  Turkey would not have problems. So, I do not think that the  international community and representatives of the Minsk group will  seriously consider Ankara as a player who will be able to positively  influence the process of resolving the Artsakh conflict, "the MP  concluded. 

To note, on March 2, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Igor  Popov (Russian Federation), Stephane Visconti (France), Andrew  Schofer  (USA) and Personal Representative of the OSCE  Chairperson-in- Office (PRCIO) Andrzej Kasprzyk paid a visit to  Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with the  co-chairs and Andrzej Kasprzyk.

During a meeting with mediators Chavushoglu said that the OSCE Minsk  Group should act more actively to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict. The Minister noted that the conflict should be resolved on  the basis of sovereignty and within the internationally recognized  borders of Azerbaijan.  

Commenting on this meeting and the prospects of Turkey's involvement  in the peace negotiations, the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman  Anna Naghdalyan, in particular, said:  "Given the unfriendly policy  towards Armenia and the Armenian people, which is also reflected in  the unilateral military and political support of Azerbaijan in the  context of Nagorno-Karabakh of the conflict, Turkey cannot play any  role in the peaceful resolution of this conflict. " 

Earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, reacting to a  statement by Mevlut Cavusoglu, quoted a chapter from the New  Testament on his Twitterr page. "MevlutCavusoglu 's advise to OSCE  Minsk Group Co-Chairs on NagornoKarabakh conflict invites reflection  on Luke 4:23 - "Physician, heal thyself".