TURKISH AND ARMENIAN GOVERNMENTS BEGIN SECRET NEGOTIATIONS

Azeri Press Agency
July 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Ankara -APA. Turkish and Armenian governments hold secret negotiations,
the Turkish Hurriyyet newspaper said, APA reports.

A meeting between the officials of both countries started on July 8 in
Bern, Switzerland lasted for several days. High-ranking diplomats of
the Turkey’s Foreign Ministry led the delegation of Turkish government,
the newspaper said, but didn’t report what issues they have discussed
at the negotiations. Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan addressed warm
messages to Turkey in recent weeks. In his interview to Wall Street
Journal he said that despite closing borders, there were common
interests between both peoples in cultural, humanitarian and sport
fields. Sargsyan thinks that establishing political relations based
on mutual trust will create opportunity for discussion of complex
issues concerned both sides. "Only through them can we create an
effective dialogue touching upon even the most contentious historical
issues", said Sargsyan. Armenian president insinuated that they can
accept Turkey’s proposal for establishing joint commission on false
"genocide" issue. Sargsyan considers that if his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul visits Armenia, they will announce a new symbolic start
in their relations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress