PRESIDENT: ARMENIA FACILITATES NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS

ARKA
Sep 3, 2009

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Armenia has facilitated normalization
of Armenia-Turkey relations, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said
at the annual meeting of central foreign ministry staff and heads of
Armenian diplomatic missions abroad.

It also helped to raise awareness and obligations of the world
community in this respect, Sargsyan said.

Monday Armenia and Turkey reached an agreement to start internal
political consultations on two protocols – the protocol about
establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries and the
protocol about developing the bilateral relations. The consultations
are expected to be completed within six weeks, then the protocols
will be submitted for parliaments’ approval in the countries.

Armenia has attempted to settle its relations with a neighboring
country as it should in the civilized 21st century, Armenian president
said.

Sargsyan pointed out several realities reflected in agreements: first,
they do not contain any preconditions in respect to Karabakh peace
process and other issues; second, historical issues of Armenian-Turkish
relations should be discussed not by a commission of historians,
but by a subcommission of the intergovernmental commission.

Third, for the first time in the history of Armenia public discussions
will precede the signing of an important international document,
Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan stre ssed the importance of public activity in this matter. He
said it is necessary to introduce the protocols with both positive
and problematic parts to the public.

Sargsyan said active discussions on the issue are also expected in
Armenian communities abroad and in international research centers.

No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by
official Ankara.

The reason for complicated relations between the countries is
particularly Turkey’s pro-Azerbaijani stance on the Karabakh conflict
and acute response to the process of international acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The first thaw in the relations was recorded on September 6 2008 when
Turkish President Abdullah Gul for the first time arrived in Yerevan
invited by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to watch together
the football match between the nationals of Armenia and Turkey in
2010 championship qualifying games. During the visit the two leaders
discussed possible normalization of the relations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress