Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 24 2009

Turkish foreign minister says improving relations with Armenia
"attainable" goal

Ankara 24 April – Turkish foreign minister said Friday they had been
exerting intense efforts for the normalization of relations between
Turkey and Armenia as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"We have a goal and we believe that it is attainable. We believe that
this is not a mere dream. Our task is not easy but we are moving
forward step by step just as in a chess play," Ali Babacan told an
Istanbul meeting of the Aspen Atlantic Group.

Babacan said solution of the issues between Turkey and Armenia, and
Armenia and Azerbaijan would create a new geopolitical order in the
Caucasus.

The Aspen Atlantic Group is a non-partisan initiative of former
serving North American and European foreign ministers. The group seeks
to develop concrete recommendations to help the two sides of the
Atlantic address common global challenges.

Also participating in the meeting as the coordinator of the group’s
meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, former US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright said the meeting would address great many issues.

"We have specifically wanted to come to Turkey and take up many
fascinating and challenging issues," Albright said.