TURKEY, ARMENIA HOLD TALKS TO `NORMALIZE’ TIES, BABACAN SAYS
Ayla Jean Yackley

Bloomberg
July 18 2008

July 18 (Bloomberg) — Turkish and Armenian officials have held direct
talks in an effort to "normalize" relations, Turkey’s foreign minister,
Ali Babacan, said.

Officials from both sides have met "from time to time" to discuss ways
to improve links, Babacan said today at a televised news conference
in Ankara. He also said he and his Armenian counterpart, Edward
Nalbandian, have exchanged greetings at international gatherings.

Babacan said Turkey favors dialogue with Armenia to resolve their
disputes, including a disagreement arising from Armenian allegations
that Turkey committed genocide against its own Armenian community in
World War I. Turkey denies the accusation and opposes the Armenian
presence in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Senior diplomats from Turkey and Armenia held secret talks in the
Swiss city of Bern on July 8, Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper said today.