Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 8 2008
President Gül’s Yerevan visit boosts Turkey’s credentials in Europe
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and European Union Commissioner for
Enlargement Olli Rehn have praised President Abdullah Gül’s
visit to Armenia to watch a World Cup qualifying match between the
national teams of the two countries. Sarkozy welcomed the visit, the
first ever by a Turkish president since Armenia became independent in
1991, as "courageous and historic."
Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European
Union, said in a statement on Saturday: "While the region is in the
midst of a serious crisis, [his visit] is a courageous and historic
gesture for Turkish-Armenian relations.
It allows hope for progress soon in establishing normal relations
between Turkey and Armenia."
Sarkozy is a staunch opponent of Turkey’s accession into the EU,
saying it culturally and geographically does not belong in Europe. But
he praised Turkey’s role in mediating peace talks between Israel and
Syria and said Europe was grateful for its assistance at a summit in
Damascus on the Middle East last week.
He paid "tribute to the political courage of President Gül and
President [Serzh] Sarksyan" of Armenia and said he was hoping that
reaching out will allow both countries to show the world that
"reconciliation is possible through openness, dialogue and the respect
of others."
Speaking to reporters in Avignon, France, on the sidelines of an EU
foreign ministers meeting, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner
also praised Gül and said the EU welcomed his visit to Armenia.
Turkey’s Armenia initiative follows its efforts to create a Caucasus
platform to resolve regional disputes after a brief Georgian-Russian
war last month. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who attended the talks
with EU foreign ministers on Saturday, said he was optimistic that
French position towards Turkey would soften as Paris gets to know
Turkey better and understands its importance in the region.
"We have been holding constant talks in the recent past with
France. As France understands us better, France’s perspective and
thoughts on Turkey will change positively," Babacan said on Saturday
in Avignon. He said he had briefed his EU counterparts about the
Turkish government’s recent efforts to help peace in the Caucasus and
a proposed Caucasus platform for regional stability and cooperation.
Babacan also said Turkey expected to open two more negotiating
chapters with the EU during the French presidency, which will expire
at the end of the year. EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn also
commended on Gül’s initiative to go to Yerevan and praised
Turkey’s energetic diplomacy to help solve frozen conflicts in the
Caucasus. "I certainly hope that this will pave the way for a
breakthrough in Turkey-Armenian relations and return to normal
diplomatic relations, to the opening of the border and dealing with
sensitive historical issues," Rehn said.
Speaking before the soccer game, Rehn joked, "If Turkey plays as well
as they did in the European [soccer] championship, they should cause a
diplomatic incident in Yerevan."
"Turkey’s active diplomacy towards Syria, the Middle East, Armenia and
the Caucasus show its paramount importance as our partner in advancing
regional stability in one of the most unstable parts of the world,"
Rehn said. "The EU accession process would further facilitate joint
work by the EU and Turkey to stabilize those regions." Ä°stanbul
Today’s Zaman with wires
08 September 2008, Monday