US: ARMENIA AND TURKEY SHOULD ESTABLISH BILATERAL TIES WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.06.2009 17:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Administration remains committed to the idea
that Armenian-Turkish ties normalization process cannot last forever,
Philip Gordon, US Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs,
told a press conference in Yerevan. "After April 22 statement of
Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministries, US State Department welcomed
the step. Today, I reiterate Washington’s position that Armenia
and Turkey should establish mutual ties without any preconditions
and within reasonable time-limits," American diplomat stressed,
characterizing Yerevan-Ankara talks as a separate process. "Talks on
Armenian-Turkish ties normalization cannot last forever, and it’s very
important that parties perfectly realize that," Philip Gordon added,
noting the mutual advantage of the process for both countries as well
as the entire region.
On April 22, 2009, Armenia and Turkey carried out intensive work by
the mediation of Switzerland, towards normalization of bilateral ties
and development of friendly relations. Thereafter, US State Department
released a statement calling on parties to normalize relations without
preconditions and within reasonable time-limits. "We call on Yerevan
and Ankara to act within the frames of the agreement and road map. We
hope for both parties cooperation towards normalization of ties,
contributing to peace, security and stability in the region," runs
the statement.