ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS AT BSEC MEETING IN ISTANBUL

Hurriyet
Nov 24 2008
Turkey

Here are some remarks from the speech of Armenian Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
(BSEC) meeting in Istanbul. (UPDATED)

BSEC

— I am confident of the organization having a special responsibility
to develop economic development in the wider Black Sea area.

— I think that when we created this organization we were twice
less presence, not only member states, but also observers and other
participants. Now we have more than 25 countries present for this
meeting. This is another proof that the organization is functioning.

— All countries understand that they have to join efforts to respond
to this global crisis, this challenge; we as the BSEC could join
efforts not only as an organization, and as member states.

— Cooperation could more effective. At the same time the economic
cooperation could be boosted to resolve all problems between countries.

RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

— I am in Istanbul as chairman of BSEC. It is a pleasure for me to
respond invitation of my colleagues. We will continue negotiations
concerning normalizations of our bilateral relations. Active dialogue
started early September when Gul came to watch the soccer match
to Armenia.

— We will continue this negotiations started early September,
I don’t see any serious obstacle in normalizing the relations.

— Normalizing relations and opening of the common border without any
preconditions, Armenia is ready to do that and we wait for Turkey to
do the same.

— It is interest of Armenia to establish diplomatic relations
with Turkey. There are many countries in war. They have diplomatic
relations; they are open to each other.

— I don’t see any major obstacles that could go to the
normalization. All establishment of diplomatic relations must be
prepared properly. This is not a problem, this is the question of
our relations.

— Our position is very clear. My optimism coming from the negotiations
with the Turkish side; we started negotiations immediately after
the (visit of the) president of Turkey in September. We had very
constructive, very interesting, very sincere and frank discussions.

— For the direct flights. I came directly from Yerevan. So if THY
will decide to have own direct flights to Armenia, why not? It would
be very good in boosting business and tourism between two countries.

— We must do it by our own decisions. The U.S. is very supportive
for the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations and we hope this
road would continue.

— Yes President Gul invited our president. Our president accepted
this invitation and I hope he will be here in October 2009 for
Turkey-Armenia match.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

— Meeting held in the beginning of November in Moscow is not the
first meeting between the presidents. The first one was in June
in St. Petersburg. This November meeting was very constructive and
positive. Not from the talks but in the point of view of declaration
signed. First time there was a document signed by president of
Azerbaijan and Armenia saying Nagorno-Karabakh must be solved
peacefully and diplomatic way.

— The settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh should be guaranteed
by international communities. This is not a peace agreement but
principles are important. First time these countries signed in the
level of presidents.

— After that meeting three co-chairs visited the region. The basis of
the negotiations are the proposals made by the three co-chairs of Minsk
Group. We hope the Moscow meeting would accelerate the negotiations
between the parties through solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.