CLINTON SAYS TURKISH-ARMENIAN TALKS ‘ON TRACK’
says-turkish-armenian-talks-on-track/
Jun 8th, 2009
WASHINGTON (Combined Sources)-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
said in a press conference Friday that the process between Turkey
and Armenia to normalize their relations were continuing on
course. Although there have been no concrete steps taken by either
state since late April, Clinton said Washington strongly supports
the so-called "roadmap" process.
Clinton was speaking after a Friday meeting with Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoðlu at the State Department.
With Switzerland standing as observer, Turkey and Armenia jointly
said April 22 that they would work to normalize their relations and
that a road map had been drawn up for that.
Although it has not been made public, the road map is believed to
include a set of steps, including the creation of full diplomatic ties,
and more importantly, the opening of the two neighbors’ land border.
At the Washington meeting with Foreign Minister Davutoðlu, Clinton
struck a hopeful note that the normalization would take place.
"I have been very encouraged by the progress that has been made and
by the commitment of the governments involved. Certainly Turkey and
Armenia, with the assistance of the Swiss government, have committed
themselves to a process of normalization," said Clinton.
"We’re well aware that this is difficult. It requires patience
and perseverance. But we have seen no flagging of commitment," she
said. "We believe that a lot of progress has been made in a relatively
short period of time to resolve issues that are of long standing."
Clinton said that Azerbaijan and Armenia were also working on the
Karabakh problem.
Davutoðlu said: "we are fully committed to our normalization process
with Armenia."
He also said that "on the main regional issues like the Middle East,
Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Caucasus, Black Sea, and all the relevant
issues, we have a common agenda."
"I am very happy to see that we have very identical, similar approaches
to many of these issues," he said.
Clinton reiterated Washington’s support for Turkey in the fight
against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) and her backing for
Turkey’s eventual membership to the European Union.