Question.-  Turkey and the international community are surprised that Armenia refused to accept Turkish representatives in the election observation mission.

Answer.- Turkey maintains a closed border with Armenia and refuses to establish diplomatic relations. Under these circumstances, to expect to send observers is a bit disingenuous.

Armenia regrets that Turkey did not demonstrate sensitivity in relation to its citizens-representatives participating in the OSCE observer mission to Armenia, given the absence of relations between our two countries.

Turkey cannot choose and select which kinds of political relations it wishes to have with Armenia, and which it does not wish to have. Political and diplomatic relations are not entered into selectively.

Armenia understands the concern of OSCE members regarding Armenia’s OSCE commitments, and reaffirms that we remain faithful to those commitments. But we expect that participating states will also expect Turkey to adhere to its commitments to engage in normal, neighborly relations with Armenia.