EU official says Turkey must strengthen ties with Armenia

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
19 Jun 05

Kars, 19 June: Turkey-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary
Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk has indicated that Turkey’s most
important task in its EU process is good relations with its neighbours.

Lagendijk was at the Kars Mayor Naif Alibeyoglu’s office yesterday
where he made some comments on Turkey-EU relations.

“Turkey must strengthen its relations with Armenia. Nothing can be
achieved with isolationist policies. I believe that Azerbaijan can
get back its territory through dialogue. The EU must play an active
role to find a solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. We must
look at the Turkey-Armenia and Armenia-Azerbaijan problems as ones
separate from each other,” told Lagendijk.

According to Lagendijk, it is vital to have regional policies to
develop the economy in poor areas. “We agree with Mr Erdogan on his
stance vis-a-vis Armenia. An independent committee of historians must
be formed to study the incidents of early 20th century. Independent
studies must take place on the events of 1915. However, the border
gate between Turkey and Armenia must be opened soon,” said Lagendijk.

Meanwhile, Kars Mayor Naif Alibeyoglu stressed that the people of
Kars wholeheartedly support Turkey’s EU membership. “The EU is a
goal outlined by Kemal Ataturk. We want to be a part of the EU,”
noted Alibeyoglu.