GEORGIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER: TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDERS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REOPEN – EXCLUSIVE

APA
April 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Washington. Zaur Hasanov – APA. Georgia’s Foreign Minister Grigol
Vashadze met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit
to Washington.

The Secretary of State said that the United States would continue
supporting Georgia’s steps towards independence and democracy.

After the meeting, to the question of APA’s US bureau about the
probability of the reopening of Turkey-Armenia borders and its impact
on Georgia’s trade turnover Vashadze said: "Turkey-Armenia borders
are not expected to reopen."

Asked how much Turkey-initiated Caucasus Stability and Cooperation
Platform served the cooperation in the region, Georgian Minister
said: "There are no relations between Georgia and Russia, between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite this, Turkey wants everybody to
be reconciled. But it is impossible to achieve peace within this
format. Such issues require serious preparation, long and complicated
work. Another important issue is that each party of the negotiations
should realize that there will be no peace in the Caucasus unless the
norms of the international law are obeyed. Our region is very small,
there is no place for a 3rd, 4th, 18th state here."