TURKEY SEEKS TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH ARMENIA
Anatolia news agency
31 May 06
Ankara, 31 May: “Turkey is intending to pursue efforts to normalize
relations with Armenia,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik
Tan said on Wednesday [31 May].
Tan told a weekly news conference that Turkey was resolved to establish
peace, tranquillity and stability in its region as its traditional
foreign policy principle.
“Success of Turkey’s efforts to normalize relations (with Armenia)
depends on a more flexible and constructive approach from Yerevan as
well as to the overcoming of bilateral and regional problems. It also
depends on Armenia’s willingness of abiding by international law,”
Tan noted.
Giving information to journalists about the process, Tan said Turkey
has asked Armenia to establish a joint commission comprising Turkish
and Armenian experts to investigate the incidents that had occurred
in 1915.
Tan said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote a letter
to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in April 2005 including this
suggestion.
“Upon the response letter of Kocharyan to Erdogan, a negotiation
process has started between the two countries to seek a common ground.
Three rounds of talks were held so far,” Tan indicated.