RA MFA: ARMENIA, TURKEY TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.11.2008 18:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said
the RA will continue negotiations for normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia.

"Active dialogue, which started early September when Turkish
President Gul paid a visit to Armenia, will be continued. I don’t
see any serious obstacle for normalizing our relations. Our position
implies normalization of relations and opening of the border without
any preconditions, Armenia is ready to do that and we wait for Turkey
to do the same. Armenia is interested in establishment of diplomatic
relations with Turkey. There are many countries in state of war,
which have diplomatic relations and are open to each other," he said
in Istanbul during the meeting of the BSEC Secretariat.

"My optimism originates from the negotiations with the Turkish side;
we started negotiations immediately after the visit of the Turkish
President of in September. We had very constructive, very interesting
and frank discussions," he said.

Commenting on the possibility of direct flights to be exercised by
Turkish Airlines, Minister Nalbandian said, "I came directly from
Yerevan. So if THY decides to have own direct flights to Armenia,
why not? It would be very useful for business and tourism between
two countries."

He also voiced hope that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will be
in Istanbul in October 2009 for Turkey-Armenia return soccer match.