ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEY TO SEE FOOTBALL MATCH – FOREIGN MINISTER

Interfax
Nov 24 2008
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will visit Turkey in 2009, Armenian
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian told a press conference in Istanbul.

"The Turkish President Abdullah Gul came to Armenia in September to
see a football match between the national teams of our two countries.

Yes, the Turkish president has invited Sargsyan to visit Turkey. Our
president accepted this invitation, and I hope that he will come to
Turkey in October 2009 to see the return game," Nalbandian said as
cited by the Turkish publication Hurriyet.

"I do not see serious obstacles on the way of settlement between our
countries. The establishment of diplomatic relations should be on
the necessary level. This is not a problem, this is the job of our
relations," Nalbandian said.

"The position of Yerevan is clear," he said. "My optimism derives from
the talks with the Turkish side. We began our talks immediately after
the visit of the Turkish president to Armenia in September. We have
had constructive, interesting and honest talks. As for direct flights,
I came directly from Yerevan. If THY decides to conduct direct flights
between our countries, why not. This will contribute to business and
tourism," Nalbandian said.

Nalbandian will visit Istanbul for one day in terms of Armenian
presidency in the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC).