WASHINGTON TIMES: POSSIBLE ARMENIA-TURKEY DEAL

Hetq.am
2009/04/03 | 09:57

Region politics

Another major U.S. newspaper, The Washington Times, has picked up on
yesterday’s The Wall Sreet Journal article regarding a potential deal
between Armenia and Turkey that would pave the way for the opening
of the border, diplomatic relations and a commission to tackle the
events of 1915. Below are excerpts of today’s Washington Times article
entitled, "Diplomats forsee Turkey, Armenia pact".

Turkey and Armenia could be on the brink of a historic reconciliation
that will include a joint investigation of the killing of hundreds
of thousands of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915, Turkish diplomats
and specialists say.

Hugh Pope, Turkey project director for the International Crisis
Group, said that after two years of secret talks, the historic rivals
are nearing agreement on a sweeping package that includes opening
a border closed since 1993, diplomatic relations and a bilateral
intergovernmental commission on issues ranging from taxes and public
health to the history of what Armenians have called genocide by the
Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern Turkey.

Turkey is also expected to issue a "road map" on a solution for
Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan that has been under de facto
Armenian control since 1994.

"The parameters of the deal are very much set," Mr. Pope said. "The
only thing holding things back now is nerves."

"These are extremely serious negotiations," said a senior Turkish
diplomat, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the
issue. "We are optimistic and we have been working hard and hopefully
we will see positive developments."

"These are highly sensitive negotiations and both sides have gone to
great lengths to keep them secret," added a Turkish foreign ministry
spokesman.