‘TURKEY-ARMENIA TIES IMPORTANT FOR STABILITY OF REGION’

Tert.am
20.05.10

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that positive
relations between Turkey and Armenia would be in the interest of the
region and bring stability. Commenting on the recent developments in
relations between Turkey and Armenia, Ban said the protocol, aiming
at boosting relations, was a "landmark" in relations, reports Turkish
Daily News & Economic Review.

Ban said he knew there was a long-lasting historical matter between
the two countries, noting that, "However, positive and harmonized
relations between Turkey and Armenia, being two important countries
of the same region, would be extremely important both for stability
and peace in the region and for the cooperation of the peoples of
the two countries."

The U.N. secretary-general said a lack of respect and understanding
between cultures and beliefs was the basis for many of the world’s
violent incidents.

When it was recalled that some European leaders oppose Turkey’s full
membership in the EU and he was asked if he believed that Turkey would
be a member of the EU one day, Ban said he knew that the Turkish
government carried on talks with its European counterparts to be a
full member and that he closely followed the developments. Ban said
negotiations regarding Turkey’s EU membership should continue between
Turkish and European leaders.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress