Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Sept 30 2007

Turkish foreign minister discusses Armenian issue with Canadian
counterpart

New York, 30 September: During his talks with his Canadian
counterpart Maxime Bernier in New York, Turkish Foreign Minister and
Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan expressed the uneasiness
caused in Turkey due to Canada’s stance on the Armenian allegations,
sources said on Sunday [30 September].

According to diplomatic sources, Babacan briefed Bernier – who has
been recently appointed as Canadian FM – on issues such as relations
between Turkey and Canada, the general elections held in Turkey on 22
July the studies on the new constitution and the latest developments
regarding Turkey’s negotiations with EU.

Babacan told Bernier that Canada’s stance on the Armenian allegations
overshadowed the improving relations between the two countries.
Babacan also said that Turkey expected Canada to take steps regarding
this matter.

Underscoring that they attached great importance to relations with
Turkey, Bernier said they would make a more detailed research on the
incidents of 1915. Bernier also indicated that they fully supported
Turkey’s proposal to Armenia for the formation of a "Joint History
Commission".

Other talks

Within the scope of his talks in USA, Babacan had meetings with
Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, FM of the United
Arab Emirates Abdallah bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan and FM of Bahrain Khalid
bin Ahmad al-Khalifa as well. The Middle East issue was debated in
these meetings, sources said.

Luxembourg, Papua New Guinea

On the other hand, Babacan discussed Cyprus issue and Turkey’s EU
accession process during his talks with FM of Luxembourg Jean
Asselborn.

Asselborn told Babacan that the rightest platform to solve the Cyprus
issue was definitely UN, not EU.

Meanwhile, Babacan and FM of Papua New Guinea Sam Abal talked about
Turkey’s EU membership process during their meeting, sources added.