TURKEY CALLS ON THIRD PARTY COUNTRIES TO SUPPORT PROCESS WITH ARMENIA

Hurriyet
Feb 24 2009
Turkey

A Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman called on the third party
countries on Tuesday to support the process aiming at normalizing
the relations between Turkey and Armenia.

"We have been carrying out a series of talks with Armenia in order
to normalize our relations. We think that it is not proper to send
messages to each other through the press during this process," Burak
Ozugergin, spokesman for Turkish Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the
Anatolian Agency as telling at a weekly press briefing.

Ozugergin called on third countries to support the process between
Turkey and Armenia since any intervention could have a negative impact
on talks.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and their border
has been closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the
international community with the backing of the diaspora to admit
the so-called "genocide" claims, instead of accepting Turkey’s call
to investigate the allegations, and over Armenia’s invasion of 20
percent territory of Azerbaijan.

A warmer period began in relations when Turkish President Abdullah
Gul paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September to watch a World Cup
qualifying football match between the two countries on the invitation
of Sargsyan. The two countries have been holding contacts at the
ministerial level since.

"We have always objected attempts to distort a certain period in
our history. We cannot accept use of such distortions as a tool of
bargaining. We will continue telling the truth," Ozugergin also said.

"We wish to maintain our cooperation and consultation mechanisms
with the new administration of the United States in all areas
concerning our joint foreign policy. We got the impression that the
U.S. administration also intends to cooperate with us," he added.