NO PROGRESS FIXED IN ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS IN 2007
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.01.2008 14:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There was no progress fixed in the Armenia-Turkey
relations due to Ankara’s preconditions, says the annual report issued
by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The report says, in part, "Armenia stands for normalization of
relations without preconditions via talks. Meanwhile Turkey together
with Azerbaijan went on with its unconstructive policy targeted at
Armenia’s isolation from regional cooperation programs..
Armenia-Turkey bilateral contacts took place mostly in the framewotk
of international organizations.
The murder of Agos editor Hrant Dink on 19 January 2007 caused a wave
of protest in Turkey, what created a kind of favorable atmosphere
for a breakthrough in the Armenian-Turkish relations. RA Deputy
FM Arman Kirakossian attended Mr Dink’s funeral. However, Turkish
authorities failed to demonstrate political will for achieving progress
in relations.
In March, an Armenian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Gagik Gyurjian attended the opening ceremony of
reconstructed Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar island.
Turkish political and public groups kept on discussing the Armenian
Genocide issue, specifically after adoption of the H.Res.106 by the
U.S. congressional panel.
As to relations with Baku, they did not exceed the framework of the
Karabakh talks under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group. Some contacts
took place within international organizations as well as at level of
NGOs and media."