ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER COULD OPEN THIS FALL – SARGSYAN
Interfax
April 9 2009
Russia
President Serzh Sargsyan has not ruled out that the Armenian- Turkish
border could be opened by the time he pays a return visit to Ankara
on the occasion of the football match between the two countries’
teams in October 2009.
"Our path towards negotiations is difficult, but useful, and I think
we are approaching the completion of these talks. And I hope that
maybe, when I go to watch the return game between the Armenia and
Turkey football teams, the border will be either opened or about to
be opened," the Armenian leader said in an interview with the Russian
Vesti-24 television channel on Thursday.
The return match between the Turkish and Armenian football players is
due to take place on October 7, he said. Last year Turkish President
Abdullah Gul made an unexpected visit to Yerevan and attended the
first match between the two countries’ teams together with his
Armenian counterpart.
As for the bilateral relations, Sargsyan said: "We share the historical
memory with Turks. There is not a single Armenian in this world who
would question the genocide. Everyone is unanimous but Turks and the
Turkish keep denying it. But nevertheless, we offered to Turks to
establish diplomatic relations without any pre-conditions, to open
roads, and to set up an inter-governmental commission which would be
able to discuss all kinds of issues."