FOREIGN MINISTER: ARMENIA WISHES TO ESTABLISH NORMAL RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
ARKA
Sep 10, 2008
YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Armenia wishes to establish normal
relations with Turkey, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan
said at his meeting with Turkish journalists, who came to Armenia
for a World Cup 2010 qualifier between Armenian and Turkish nationals.
He said it seemed Turkish leaders have a similar wish.
Nalbandyan qualified Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia
as a landmark event, which can give a powerful impetus for establishing
relations between the two countries, and these relations will pave
a way for stability, security and cooperation in the region.
Analyzing the outside reaction to the visit, the minister said that the
two presidents’ meeting attracted international community’s attention
and became top story in many media outlets. Remarkable is that term
"football diplomacy" joined diplomatic lexicon.
Nalbandyan thanked Turkish journalists saying they contributed to
the preparation for this visit and improvement of Armenian-Turkish
relations by covering it positively.
Turkish journalists, in their turn, expressed gratitude to the
minister for warm and sincere conversation and assured him that they
will continue their efforts to develop friendly ties between the
two nations.
Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan on Saturday at Armenian President
Serge Sargsyan’s invitation for the football match. Th e return match
will be held in Turkey on October 14, 2009.