FULE: TIES WITH ARMENIA MATTER FOR TURKEY’S EU BID

Today’s Zaman
April 7 2010
Turkey

A top European Union official has called on Armenia and Turkey
to progress with their troubled normalization efforts without any
preconditions, while emphasizing the importance attached to this
normalization process by Brussels in relation to Turkey’s accession
into the 27-nation bloc.

"Good relations with neighbors are very important in the framework of
any country’s entry to the European Union," EU Enlargement Commissioner
Stefan Fule was quoted as saying by the Armenian media on Tuesday
during a visit to Yerevan.

"The EU must also make efforts to help both sides end this deadlock,"
Fule, whose portfolio also covers European neighborhood policy,
added, while speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Last October, Armenia and Turkey signed two protocols in Zurich
on establishing diplomatic ties and re-opening their border. But,
the ratification of the protocols by the two countries’ parliaments
has stalled, with both sides accusing the other of trying to rewrite
the deals.

Noting that he welcomed the protocols signed between the two countries,
Fule added that the EU supported the ratification of the protocols
without any preconditions within a reasonable timeframe. He reiterated
that the EU is ready to assist in finding solutions to trans-border
problems after the ratification.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress