ISTANBUL
Turkey's deputy prime minister expressed thought on Tuesday that Armenia should solve its problems with Turkey.
Bulent Arinc said it was difficult for Armenia to take giant leap forward as a country that was close to external world when commenting on results of the recent elections in that country.
"If it goes on like this, it is not possible for Armenia to overcome its problems. Armenia should solve its problems with Turkey," Arinc told a televised interview.
Arinc said Armenia should confront with realities regarding so-called genocide allegations.
According to preliminary results of Sunday's parliamentary elections, the Republican Party, led by President Serzh Sargsian, won 44.41 percent of votes.
On elections in Greece, Arinc said many parties joined the parliament, and a coalition government could be set up if at least three parties united.
"However, they do not seem to reach a compromise among themselves. Maybe a new election is ahead of the Greek people, or maybe Greece will go on with a weak coalition," Arinc said.
Moreover, Arinc said Turkey had hoped that progress could be made in ongoing Cyprus negotiations, but the Greek Cypriot administration maintained its harsh and uncompromising attitude.
Arinc underlined importance of a report to be prepared by the United Nations (UN) secretary general, and said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) continued to be in solidarity with Turkey.
"There is the Greek Cypriot administration in the south of the island. Most interestingly, the Greek Cypriot administration in the south is an EU member," Arinc said.
Arinc said leaders of the two parties had been holding negotiations to eliminate this paradox, however it was not possible to reconcile with the Greek Cypriot administration, which had been insisting that it was already an EU member.
