TURKEY AND ARMENIA OPEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
AllGov
Sept 7 2009
Although the two countries still have not resolved the Armenian
genocide issue dating back to the early 20th century, Turkey and
Armenia announced last week they are working on establishing formal
relations for the first time ever. After a year of secret diplomatic
talks in Switzerland, the foreign ministries of the two countries
agreed to go public with their negotiations and their intent to reopen
their shared border, closed since 1993. That year, the outbreak of war
between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh
led to the border being closed between Armenia and Turkey, which
supported Azerbaijan.
Russia’s military action in Georgia last year prompted Turkish
officials to improve their relations with neighboring countries,
including Armenia. Meanwhile, a new government elected in Armenia
led to a thaw in policy towards Ankara.
But it is uncertain whether Armenia will establish full ties with
its longtime adversary if Turkish officials don’t admit to killing
more than a million Armenians from 1915-1918 during the end of the
Ottoman Empire.
The next round of talks is expected to conclude in time for the
Turkey-Armenia World Cup qualifying match in Istanbul October 14.