GERMANY HAILS ARMENIA-TURKEY ATTEMPTS TO THAW ICY RELATIONS

ARKA
March 30, 2009

YEREVAN, March 30. /ARKA/. Germany hails the attempts of Armenia and
Turkey to thaw icy relations, said Minister of State at the Federal
Foreign Office Gernot Erler.

According to the German official, FRG wishes the meltdown in
Armenian-Turkish relations would help open the borders between the
two countries, thus opening new prospects for regional cooperation
amid the global financial crisis.

Erler arrived in Armenia on March 29. As part of his three-day visit,
the German official will meet with RA President Serzh Sargsyan, RA NA
(National Assembly) Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, RA NA Deputy Speaker
and Chairman of the Armenian-German Parliamentary Group of Friendship
Arevik Petrosyan.

Today, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and Erler discussed
the process of establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and
Turkey. According to the German official, the closed Armenian-Turkish
border has helped Armenia to stay back from the global financial
crisis.

Germany stands ready to support establishment of diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey, Erler said.

No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, with
the Armenian-Turkish border being closed since 1993 (initiated by
official Ankara).

Official Yerevan stands ready to establish relations with Turkey
without any preconditions, whereas Turkey requests Armenia to give
up the policy of international recogniti on of the Armenian Genocide
in 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.

Besides, Turkey has taken a pro-Azeri attitude towards the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict.