MOSCOW WELCOMES NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA, TURKEY

Interfax
April 16 2009
Russia

Russia welcomes steps aimed at normalizing relations between Turkey
and Armenia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists
in Yerevan.

"The negotiations between Ankara and Yerevan are a bilateral matter for
Armenia and Turkey. We welcome any steps that lead to the normalization
of relations. Russia proceeds exactly from this," Lavrov said.

There are currently no formal diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey, as the two countries have major disagreements over the
events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. A number of countries have
recognized the massacres in which, according to various sources, up
to 1.5 million people were killed, as genocide. Armenia is pressing
on Turkey to recognize the massacre as the genocide of Armenians,
but Turkey is refusing to do so.

Ankara is also insisting that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be settled
with Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity preserved.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress