TURKEY BIDS TO WIN SUPPORT FOR ARMENIA DEAL

Peninsula On-line
sept 12 2009
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Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu set out yesterday to
overcome opposition to the normalisation of ties with Armenia which
have been marked by decades of animosity.

Turkey and Armenia announced last month that they had agreed a
framework to establish diplomatic ties and re-open their border, in
what was internationally hailed as a major breakthrough. The talks
were mediated by Switzerland. The two countries said they would hold
internal political consultations for six weeks before submitting to
their parliaments two protocols on establishing diplomatic ties and
developing bilateral relations. "We aim to brief all political parties,
institutions and civic bodies on the protocols that will be signed,"
Davutolgu told reporters after meeting parliament speaker Mehmet
Ali Sahin.

He added that he had also asked for meetings with opposition
leaders. "We want to hold the briefings before parliament returns
from summer recess" in October."

Turkish opposition parties have expressed hostility to the plan which
they say is against Turkey’s interests.