Armenian president not to attend NATO’s Istanbul summit – foreign minister

Noyan Tapan news agency
17 May 04

Yerevan, 17 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s decision not
to participate in the NATO summit in Istanbul is based on the current
state of the Armenian-Turkish relations, and is in no way connected
with the NATO-organized event. [Foreign Minister Vardan] Oskanyan
issued this statement on 17 May while commenting on the president’s
decision not to attend the NATO’s June summit.

We have not recorded any moves in the opening of the borders and
therefore, Armenia has no diplomatic relations with Turkey, the
minister said, adding that President Kocharyan simply does not consider
it comfortable to attend the event in this country irrespective of
an organization arranging it. “There are no problems with NATO,”
Vardan Oskanyan said.

The minister believes that relations between Armenia and NATO are
at the highest level: “At present, we do not give in to our two
neighbours.” As for Armenian-Turkish relations, Oskanyan said that
Armenia was ready to normalize relations and not only on the issue
of opening borders, but also “to establishing diplomatic relations”.