ARMENIAN-TURKISH ROAD MAP LACKS CLEAR-CUT PRINCIPLES, ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS

/ARKA/
April 30. 2009
YEREVAN

The Armenian-Turkish road map lacks clear-cut provisions and
principles, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan said.

The Armenian and Turkish foreign ministries, with the mediation of
Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, agreed on a road
map on April 22 to normalize their relations.

"The road map will temporarily guide the two countries on how to
make effective agreements reached. It has no definite principles and
provisions," the RA Foreing Ministry’s press service quoted Nalbandyan.

The minister believes possible agreements between Armenia and Turkey
will contain definite principles and regulations.

Nalbandyan stressed that international community hails the road map.

"If we lived in Soviet times, we would say the progressive humanity
welcomed Armenia’s steps. We can definitely say that the USA, EU and
Russia, as well as Switzerland that served as mediator between the
two countries, back these actions," Nalbandyan said.

According to him, all the countries expect for Azerbaijan hail the
process.

"I think it is a wrong approach, since the improvement of
Armenian-Turkish relations can contribute to the situation in the
South Caucasus, with Azerbaijan being part of this region," the
minister added.

He shared the view that Armenia is making stri des in establishing
relations with Turkey, taking into consideration the aftermath of the
South Ossetian conflict and the impact of the global economic crisis
on the country.

"The Armenian president stifled the initiative several months before
the conflict in the South Ossetia broke out. In the past eight years,
Armenia recorded a two-digit economic growth," Nalbandyan said,
adding Armenia fully realizes the necessity of establishing tile with
Turkey.