Armenia, Turkey ‘Close’ To Diplomatic Ties: Yerevan

ARMENIA, TURKEY ‘CLOSE’ TO DIPLOMATIC TIES: YEREVAN

Agence France Presse — English
January 21, 2009 Wednesday 3:45 PM GMT

Armenia on Wednesday said it was "close" to establishing diplomatic
relations and opening borders with neighbouring Turkey to end decades
of enmity.

"I share the opinion of my Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan that we
are close to establishing diplomatic relations and the opening of
borders," Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian told reporters.

"We can make a new step forward if Turkey like Armenia accepts a
settlement without preliminary conditions."

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has been
closed for more than a decade amid deep differences over the World
War I massacres of Armenians under Turkey’s erstwhile Ottoman Empire.

In September, Turkish President Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish
head of state to visit Armenia, boosting a tentative dialogue process
between the two countries to overcome their history of enmity.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS