Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 7 2009

Armenian, Turkish FMs meet in Munich
07.02.09 13:27

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met his Turkish
counterpart Ali Babacan on Friday in Munich, Armenian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Tigran Balayan told RIA Novosti on Feb. 7.

"The officials discussed ways to improve Armenian-Turkish
relations. The meeting was held at the 45th International Security
Conference," Balayan said.

Balayan added that it was the second meeting between the two ministers
in 2009. The first meeting took place last week in Davos during the
World Economic Forum.

Armenia and Turkey do not maintain diplomatic relations.

The Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 upon the
initiative of official Ankara. Turkey established a number of
preconditions to commence bilateral relations with Yerevan.

A major precondition is for Armenia to end its efforts to have the
`Armenian Genocide’ recognized internationally. Armenia claims the
Ottoman Empire committed genocide during World War I.

Yerevan wants to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without
preconditions.

Armenian-Turkish official contacts have intensified.

On Sept. 6, Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan for the
first time upon the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to
watch the football match between Armenia and Turkey in the qualifying
round of World Cup 2010.

Sargsyan plans to pay a return visit to Istanbul in October 2009.