ARMENIAN MINISTER UPBEAT ON TURKISH TIES

Public Television of Armenia
March 11 2009

[Presenter] Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan made a speech
on the topic of South Caucasus: Reality and Prospects on Thursday [10
March] evening at International Diplomatic Academy in Paris. Diplomats
accredited in Paris, political figures and journalists gathered at
the authoritative diplomatic institution. Nalbandyan also answered
numerous questions.

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] During the meeting of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in Yerevan, Armenia invited
the Azerbaijani foreign minister. Armenia is the acting chair of this
organization, and naturally it invites representatives of all states –
members of this organization, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, to a
meeting of ministers planned to be held Yerevan, Nalbandyan said.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
I will undoubtedly be very glad if the Turkish foreign minister comes
to Armenia. I have also invited the Azerbaijani foreign minister.

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] The Azerbaijani authorities,
on the contrary, are not hospitable – they do not invite Armenian
officials to international meetings held in their country. No
invitation arrived for the recent Transport Corridor Europe
Caucasus Asia (TRACECA) summit, they did not invite [Armenia] to
NATO manoeuvres, that’s why those were cancelled. This approach of
Azerbaijan is unacceptable, Nalbandyan said. Anyway, formation of
Armenian-Turkish relations becomes the number one issue in the Paris
audience of the [Armenian] foreign minister. Nalbandyan is optimistic.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
We believe we are very close to normalization of relations and opening
of the borders without preconditions.

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] The foreign minister denied
yet another time the talk that Turkey is taking up a mediating role
in the Karabakh settlement.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
There have been statements both in Azerbaijan and Turkey that they
are two parts of the same nation. So, how can one part of this nation
be a mediator between the other part and another country?

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] If Washington recognizes the
Armenian genocide can this have a negative impact on normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations? They also recalled these statements
which are being made in Turkey.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations cannot call into question
the fact of the Armenian genocide. If the Armenian and Turkish
sides have the political will and sincerely strive to normalize the
relations, then no circumstance can hinder this.
From: Baghdasarian