EFFORTS TO MEND TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES `ORDER FROM US`

AzerNews weekly
Sept 8 2009
Azerbaijan

08-09-2009 23:31:41 The initiative by Turkey and Armenia to normalize
their strained relations is due to pressure from the White House,
a Turkish politician has said.

Husamettin Cindoruk, Turkey`s former parliament speaker and Democratic
Party chairman, told Dogan news agency that US President Barack
Obama`s recent address to the Turkish legislature "contained a part
that was more of an order than advice." Due to that statement, the
issue of normalizing ties with Armenia has now come into the spotlight,
Cindoruk said.

On August 31, Ankara and Yerevan agreed to participate in Swiss
mediation to begin discussions on forging diplomatic ties and
developing bilateral relations. The two countries announced they would
complete domestic consultations over two protocols within six weeks,
to be followed by ratification in their parliaments. The protocols
ultimately seek to open the Turkish-Armenian border.

Cindoruk noted that the normalization issue should be addressed not
only bilaterally, but with the participation of Azerbaijan.

"Any agreement not involving Azerbaijan will not be adopted anyhow,"
the former Turkish speaker added.

Turkey and Armenia have been at odds, and their shared border has been
shut, since 1993 due to Armenia`s policy of occupying Azerbaijani
territory and Armenian claims of World War I-era genocide. The
latest agreements are considered the first substantial move toward
normalizing ties between Ankara and Yerevan. The US government welcomed
the initiative, saying the normalization should take place without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe, and urged Armenia
and Turkey "to proceed expeditiously."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress