Armenian Public TV
Sept 6 2008
ARMENIAN, TURKISH LEADERS DECIDE TO ESTABLISH BILATERAL RELATIONS
Following the official reception at [Yerevan’s Zvartnots] airport
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received [Turkish President]
Abdullah Gul in his residence today. The presidents’ meeting was
accompanied by both countries foreign ministers.
Sargsyan noted that the direct contacts between the neighbouring
states are only positive method to normalize relations. In turn, the
Turkish president also invited the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan
to jointly watch the match between the national teams of both
countries in Istanbul. The presidents also spoke about the
normalization of bilateral relations, exchanged views of the recent
developments in the region and of problems.
Gul said that the president Sargsyan has taken the first step by
inviting him to Armenia and he accepted Sargsyan’s invitation, turning
it into the joint initiative which could be an example to whole
region.
Sargsyan said that it was possible to discuss any even more difficult
issues through a dialogue. We should make attempts to solve current
problems in order to not leave their solutions to the future
generation, Sargsyan said.
The two presidents also discussed Turkey’s initiative on setting up a
stability and security pact in the Caucasus. The Armenian president
described Turkey’s initiative as a step aimed at establishing
favorable atmosphere in the region. The presidents of both countries
noted that this meeting is a serious signal for the continue of
dialogue in the future and it should be the agenda for the further
activities of the Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers.
Following the one-to-one meeting, Sargsyan said at a brief interview
with journalists that both presidents hope that they are capable of
demonstrating the goodwill for the solution of problems between the
two countries in order to not to leave them to the future
generation. Sargsyan added that he saw the readiness and desire for
the establishment of stability and peace in the region which made him
happy.
In turn, the Turkish president noted that at a meeting with Sargsyan,
they exchanged views on turning the Caucasus into the region of
stability and cooperation. He added that they displayed the political
will to establish a suitable atmosphere between Armenia and Turkey for
resolving the current issues. He said that he was sure that his visit
will create an opportunity to settle bilateral relations between the
two countries. Gul thanked the Armenian president for the support of
Turkey’s initiative on setting up a stability and security pact in the
Caucasus.