ARMENIA, TURKEY PREPARE TO OPEN BORDER

Eurasia Insight
ticles/eav090109b.shtml
9/01/09

After 16 years of severed ties, Armenia and Turkey appear to be on
the cusp of re-opening their border and re-establishing diplomatic
relations.

Late on August 31, Turkey, Armenia and mediator Switzerland released
a protocol on Î"×~P£The Establishment of Diplomatic RelationsÎ"×~PÂ¥
that acts as a guideline for Ankara and Yerevan to sign an agreement on
diplomatic recognition. But before pen meets paper, the two countries
must hold internal consultations, according to their respective foreign
ministries. The process is expected to take up to six months. Once
signed, the document will then be subject to legislative approval.

According to a copy of the protocol posted on the Armenian foreign
affairs ministry website, the two countries promise to open their
border within two months of the protocol entering into force.

The document’s bland language glosses over the most contentious issues
between the uneasy neighbors: Turkish recognition of the 1915 Ottoman
Turk slaughter of ethnic Armenians as genocide and disagreement over
the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

The protocol, however, compels both sides to "implement a discussion
on the historical dimension" and to undertake "an impartial scientific
examination of the historical records and archives to define existing
problems and formulate recommendations."

The document also obliges Ankara and Yerevan to set up an
intergovernmental sub-commissions to advance cooperation on political,
energy, environmental and education issues. A separate sub-commission
will advise on "the historical dimension" with the participation of
"Swiss and other international experts."