IMPORTANCE OF ARMENIA-TURKEY OPEN BORDER: PETER SEMNEBY IN BAKU

Tert
Nov 16 2009
Armenia

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
summarized in Baku today the negotiations held between Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar
Mammadyarov, reports Azerbaijani news agency Trend News.

"The main issues which we discussed during the visit with Azerbaijan
president and Foreign Affairs Minister are the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as energy issues,"
said Semneby.

In his words, "I hope the improvements observed in the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will continue. Much has been achieved up
to now. The sides are close to each other and it can not be lost."

"The fact that the presidents and foreign ministers continue meeting
is in itself a positive sign," he said.

According to Semneby, the EU see the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border as a positive sign, "as it is in line with our vision of a
region where all borders will be open in the future, where people
can safely travel and trade flows."

Continuing, Semneby noted the current situation in the region:"The
present situation in the Caucasus is not normal at all: Armenia-Turkey,
Armenia-Azerbaijan and Georgia-Russia borders are closed. There
should be a beginning. Much enough has been achieved in this complex
process of negotiations. We hope that serious improvements will be
made in the other open issues, including Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,"
APA news agency quotes Peter Semneby as saying.