Turkey’s Admission to EU Favorable for Armenia: Armenian DM

TURKEY’S ADMISSION TO EU FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA: ARMENIAN DEFENSE
MINISTER

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24. ARMINFO. Turkey’s admission to EU is favorable
for Armenia, said Secretary of the Armenian Presidential Security
Council, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan during his meeting with Vice
Chairman of the Assembly of West-European Union, Head of the Italian
delegation to the Union, Marco Zaker yesterday.

The Armenian Defense Ministry told ARMINFO that Minister Sargsyan
pointed out the necessity of establishment of diplomatic relations
with Turkey without preconditions. However, to solve all the issues
official Ankara must recognize the Armenian Genocide, Sargsyan
said. In his turn, Marco Zaker said that he fully agrees with the
Armenian minister and will include this issue in his report. Serge
Sargsyan said that Armenians consider themselves Europeans, though to
enter the European family, Armenia is still to pass a great way. Zaker
said that his mission is to prepare a report on security issues in the
region. He said that stability and security of the Caucasus are
important for Europe. Sarge Sargsyan added that security issue is one
of the most important issues for Armenia, and, naturally, this issue
is in the focus of attention. He said that the South Caucasus is a
very sensitive region, especially in the context of international
problems. The program of Karabakh conflict must be solved exclusively
in a peaceful way on the basis of mutual concessions, the Armenian
minister added. He informed Marco Zaker of the three important
principles advanced by the Armenian party. At first, Karabakh cannot
be part of Azerbaijan. Second, Karabakh cannot exist isolated and must
have a land boundary with Armenia. And, the third, it is necessary to
ensure very strict guarantees of security. As regards Armenia’s
relations with Turkey, the minister said that Turkey’s admission to
the EU is favorable for Armenia. The sides discussed the issues of
struggle against terrorism.