ARMENIA IS READY TO CONTINUE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING FULL-VALUE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. As RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
evaluated, no essential improvement was registered in Armenia-Turkey
relations in 2007, mainly due to the policy adopted by Turkey towards
Armenia. As he said at the January 9 meeting with journalists,
Turkey continues conditioning improvement of Armenian-Turkish
relations by preconditions constantly brought forward (renouncing
the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, recognition
of Turkey’s territorial integrity, Nagorno Karabakh settlement, and
other issues), whereas Armenia is for establishment of relations with
Turkey without preconditions.

The Minister said that Armenia has always expressed readiness to
negotiate over problems and disagreements of the two countries, to
find ways of their solution and not to turn them into preconditions
or obstacles. The Minister stressed that Turkey together with
Azerbaijan continues hampering Armenia’s complete involvement in
regional cooperation programs. At the same time he emphasized the
necessity to normalize relations with Turkey.