KARABAKH CONFLICT NOT TO AFFECT ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION: PHILIP GORDON

news.am
March 18 2010
Armenia

U.S. does not intend to exert pressure on Turkey through the adoption
of Armenian Genocide Resolution or to use it as a vehicle for the
achievement of other goals, U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon stated at the conference in Brookings
Institution, Turkish Ilhassondakika website reports.

"The closed Armenia-Turkey border is an obstacle for the creation of
open energy corridor, which is in the interests of all the countries in
the region. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, energy issue and Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation are three major problems in Caucasus.

Each affects the other, however, no need to link one conflict with the
other, otherwise they will be intermingled. For the issues to progress
it is necessary that all the parties step up efforts," Gordon said.

According to him, active efforts are made for Karabakh conflict
settlement. "The establishment of Armenia-Azerbaijan peaceful
and stable relations is in the interest of the region. However,
this process should not hinder the steps towards the solution of
other problems, particularly it should not affect Armenia-Turkey
normalization process. It is strange that for the ratification of the
Protocols Turkey is seeking to solve another conflict. Both Turkey and
Armenia will benefit from the ratification of the documents. It will
contribute to the solution of other problems as well," Gordon said.