HAVE ARMENIA, TURKEY ACHIEVED A DEAL ON OPENING OF THE BORDER?
armradio.am
30.03.2009 16:22
Turkey and Armenia agree on the roadmap to establish diplomatic
ties and open the shared border. The timing of the declaration of
the agreement remains key for Ankara. The key question is whether to
announce the agreement before, during or after President Obama’s visit,
Hurriyet Daily reported.
The paper writes that Ankara and Yerevan have agreed on the major
parameters of a historic reconciliation in secret talks to start
diplomatic relations and re-open their shared border, which Turkey
closed in 1993.
Turkey and Armenia are readying to sign a protocol that marks
commitment by both sides to establish diplomatic relations and set up
committees on issues ranging from border management, customs, history
and more. Having achieved a satisfying deal which includes setting
up a history committee to discuss 1915 events, on which Yerevan
dragged its feet for a long time, the remaining dilemma for Ankara
is the proper timing of the announcement, the Hurriyet Daily News &
Economic Review has learned.
"The hard work is done. Everybody has faith that the deal will be
made public soon," a diplomat told the Daily News, speaking on the
condition of anonymity.
"The draft protocol will set the framework for transition to full
diplomatic relations possibly starting with low-key representations
in Ankara and Yerevan or=2 0accreditation of ambassadors from other
neighboring capitals.
Simultaneously Turkey will come up with a road map for a solution
in Nagorno-Karabakh. The modalities of the new border regime will be
determined upon the work by the border committee while as part of a
show of good will immediate measures would be taken for a gradual
opening. Diplomatic recognition will be supported by social and
economic projects with coordination of the Turkish Armenian Business
Development Council, or TABDC.
If Turkey insists not to proceed with the announcement before Obama’s
meetings in Ankara, then there are two other symbolic dates on the
horizon that would serve as meaningful opportunities for announcing
the historic deal. The UN-sponsored Alliance of Civilizations summit
in Istanbul, which coincides with Obama’s visit, is the first
opportunity because Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
will also attend. The next option is Turkish Foreign Minister Ali
Babacan’s trip to Yerevan on April 16 to attend a meeting of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization," the Daily News writes.