Turkish, US officials discuss Armenia, Iran, Cyprus

Anatolia news agency
17 Mar 06

Ankara, 17 March: Ankara has given the message to the US assistant
secretary of state for Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs,
Daniel Fried, who reportedly asked Turkey to open up the border
crossing with Armenia, that the issue was part of the Turkish-Armenian
normalization process.

According to diplomatic sources, Fried urged Turkey to open up the
border gate between Turkey and Armenia since it would contribute to
resolution of Upper Karabakh problem.

Ankara reiterated its actual policy and made known that the issue
was part of the normalization process of relations between Turkey
and Armenia.

Iran’s nuclear programme was also taken up at the meetings, sources
said. Both sides shared concern over Iran’s nuclear programme;
however Turkish and American officials agreed that the problem
should be resolved through diplomatic means. On the other hand the
US executive conveyed the message to Turkish side that the military
alternative was still on the table.

During Fried’s meeting with MFA [Foreign Ministry] Undersecretary Ali
Tuygan, the Cyprus issue was one of the topics and Tuygan emphasized
the importance of ending the isolation of TRNC. Tuygan recalled
that the Greek Cypriot side, which had always had an uncompromising
attitude, was rewarded.