ARMENIAN-TURKISH INITIATED DOCUMENTS ARE INITIAL STEPS AIMED AT NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of public
discussions, at the end of last week RA President Serzh Sargsyan
invited for a meeting more than thirty Armenian media heads to exchange
thoughts over issues regarding the current normalization process of
Armenia-Turkey relations.

S. Sargsyan told media heads that he expects an open and sincere
talk over the current normalization stage of Armenia-Turkey relations
attaching importance to their view as people having an active civil
position, as well as people forming the public opinion. He also
emphasized the importance of participation and assistance of the
two countries’ societies to this process and said that problem’s
solution cannot be achieved without it. S. Sargsyan once more attached
importance to many-sided coverage of the process and various opinions
regarding it in mass media.

During the interested and unconstrained discussion lasting more than
two hours media heads presented their opinion and considerations of
the process and initiated protocols, exchanged thoughts over possible
risks and concerns.

According to a report by the RA President’s Press Office, S. Sargsyan
gave explanations to the meeting participants about the main opinions
of the process voiced in media and issues being discussed. He said
that Armenia has entered a difficult, yet a necessary process. He
considered Armenian-Turkish initiated documents as initial steps
aimed at normalization of the relations, the main goal of which is
to ensure a minimum atmosphere, plane that will give a possibility
to start a dialogue with Turkey and to discuss many issues, starting
with economic, political up to historic and cultural ones.