EU DRAFT REPORT ON TURKEY OBLIGES ANKARA TO OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA

Regnum, Russia
Aug 5 2006

Turkey should "take all necessary measures without pre-conditions
to establish diplomatic and neighborly relations with Armenia, as
well as open its border as soon as possible according to resolutions
of the European Parliament of 1987-2005." The request is included
in a draft report on Turkey, discussed and approved by the European
Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Relations on September 4, European
Hai Dat (Armenian question) Bureau of Dashnaktsutyun ARF informs,
stressing that 343 amendments were put into the draft report from
July to beginning of September.

According to the source, the problem of Armenian Genocide in 1915
is mentioned in passing; the Armenian and Turkish governments are
called upon "to continue the process of their reconciliation in order
to adopt a mutually acceptable proposal." As European Hai Dat Bureau
Chairwoman Hilda Choboyan stresses, such formulation bears the stamp of
negation and pressure provided by Turkey and it is aimed at weakening
the European Parliament’s positions. "For Turkey, which is on its
way to join the EU, collision with its own history is inevitable,"
it is stressed in the report; Azg newspaper informs.

It is worth reminding, ahead of restoration of diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey, Ankara sets up several claims, including
rejection of activity, fulfilled by official Yerevan and aimed at
international recognizing of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, as well
as recognition of Karabakh to be an inalienable part of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress