TURKEY VOWS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
Xinhua
Feb 24 2009
China
ANKARA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) — Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator
for EU Talks Egemen Bagis said Tuesday that the government wants to
improve relations with all neighbors including Armenia.
Bagis made the remarks at his meeting with directors, principals and
heads of Parent Teacher Associations of Armenian primary and high
schools in the Turkish largest city of Istanbul.
The Armenian community living in Turkey is an important bridge for
this purpose, Bagis was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia
news agency.
"We wish to improve political, economic and social relations with
Armenia. Recent developments raised our hopes," said Bagis.
"I am hopeful and we see the Armenian community living in Turkey as
an important bridge for this purpose. Because you have got a lot to
add to this friendship," Bagis added.
He said hostility and hatred would go nowhere as Turkish and Armenian
people lived together on this geography for centuries.
Bagis said that Turkish and Armenian people would overcome obstacles
together, adding "we got over lots of difficulties together on this
land. We have gone through very poor and troubled days together. Now
we are experiencing maybe the most prosperous days of our history."
On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman of Burak Ozugergin
called on the third countries to support the process aiming at
normalizing the relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Ozugergin said "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."
"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," he said.
Armenia has claimed that up to 1.5 million Armenians died as a result
of "massacre" during the Turkish Ottoman Period between 1915 and 1923,
but Turkey categorically rejects the accusation.
Last November, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said that
Armenia was ready to launch diplomatic relations and open border
with Turkey without any precondition, describing Turkish President
Gul’s visit to Armenia in September as a good foundation for the
normalization of relations between the two countries.