Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
June 11 2005

Armenian Says U.S. Should Help Resolve Dispute With Turkey

Washington, 11 June 2005 (RFE/RL) — Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian is urging the United States to get more involved in helping
Armenia and Turkey reach a settlement of their dispute.

Oskanian made the call after meeting Friday in Washington with U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Oskanian in particular urged the
United States to help persuade Turkey to reopen the border with
Armenia and resume normal trade ties.

Armenia has also recently urged the European Union to pressure Turkey
to reopen the border, which the Turks closed in 1993 during the
conflict between Armenian-backed forces and Azerbaijan over the
mainly ethnic Armenian populated Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in
Azerbaijan.

In addition to the Turkish trade embargo, Armenian-Turkish ties are
strained by Turkey’s rejection of Armenia’s contention that Ottoman
Turks committed genocide against Armenians from 1915-1923.