CRITICAL TIME FOR ARMENIA AND TURKEY, SAYS STATE DEPARTMENT

Asbarez
Apr 13th, 2010

WASHINTON (Combined Sources)-This is a critical time for Armenia
and Turkey to implement the protocols that were signed last year,
said State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley, following Tuesday’s
meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, reported Armen Hareyan of HULIQ.com.

"The discussion was about how to take specific steps on progress on
both sides," Crowley said.

When asked what the Turkish foreign minister about the prospects for a
breakthrough between the two historically estranged neighbors, Crowley
said, "Anyone who knows Davutoglu knows that he is always optimistic."

Characterizing the 45-minute meeting as "positive," Crowley said there
wasn’t enough time to discuss the Iran nuclear issue in the meeting,
but noted that Clinton and Davotoglu will meet again before he leaves
for Ankara Thursday.

At a luncheon, hosted by Clinton Tuesday for the foreign ministers
attending the nuclear summit, Nalbandian and Davutoglu continued the
discussion initiated Monday during a meeting between President Serzh
Sarkisian and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While neither leader issued a statement following Monday’s meeting,
the Turkish media reported that the two had decided that their foreign
ministers would discuss the ratification process of the protocols.