U.S. CONGRESSMEN ON ARMENIA-TURKEY DEVELOPMENTS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 4 2009
Armenia

Today, Sept. 4, U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. and Mark Steven Kirk,
Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, released
the following statement on the recent Armenia-Turkey developments.

"As co-chairs of the Armenian Caucus, we support the aim of Monday’s
development between Armenia and Turkey to move toward normalizing
relations. We believe it is essential that the two countries do so
without preconditions and in a timely manner.

"While we are optimistic that efforts are being renewed to lift the
Turkish blockade and establish relations between the two countries, we
remain concerned with Turkey’s willingness to cooperate in the matter.

On July 30, along with 80 Members of Congress, we sent a letter to
President Obama expressing our concern that the Turkish government will
once again stall progress on these efforts. Only weeks after announcing
the historical agreement to work towards normalization with Armenia,
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan steered his country away from the
negotiations by placing preconditions on normalization. Once again,
we fear that Turkey will use the recent developments as an excuse to
continue stall tactics, which prevent a truthful working relationship
between the two nations.

We are concerned with certain provisions of the protocols, which
may include preconditions to opening the border between Armenia
and Turkey. Normalization of relations should take place without
preconditions. Any attempt to include a review of historical fact,
such as the Armenian Genocide, or to include the ongoing Nagorno
Karabakh peace process into these negotiations stands in direct
opposition to the intent of these talks.

We remain hopeful that Turkey, by lifting its illegal blockade, will
open the door to normalized relations between Yerevan and Ankara, and
a new era of Armenia-Turkey relations based on truth, justice, peace
and cooperation. By coming to terms with the past and reconciling any
current conflicts, Turkey and Armenia will help bring more stability
to a volatile and strategic region of the world," the statement of
U.S. Congressmen reads.

NEWS.am reported that late on August 31, the Swiss Federal Department
of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey
issued a press releases on which says: "The Republic of Armenia and
the Republic of Turkey have agreed to start their internal political
consultations on two Protocols – the ‘Protocol on the establishment
of diplomatic relations’ and the ‘Protocol on the development of
bilateral relations’ – which have been initiated in the course of
their efforts under Swiss mediation.