U.S. hails Armenian-Turkish thaw
19.02.2009,
23:08
The United States hails the thaw between Armenia and Turkey, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to Armenia Stephen Banks said on Wednesday.
YEREVAN, February 19. /ARKA/. The United States hails the thaw between Armenia and Turkey, Stephen Banks, Acting DCM and Political-Economic Section Chief of United States’ Embassy in Armenia.
The U.S. government has vowed staunch support to both countries, and their leaders are well aware of that, according to Banks.
The Turkish president’s visit to Armenia last September testifies to the recent thaw in Armenia-Turkey relations, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador said, expressing a hope the Armenian and Turkish leaders would put bilateral relations on a steady course.
No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by official Ankara.
Official Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with Turkey without any preconditions. But Turkey puts preconditions for establishing bilateral relations, particularly requests Armenia to give up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian genocide of 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.
The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch Armenia vs. Turkey World Cup qualifier. -0-
The U.S. government has vowed staunch support to both countries, and their leaders are well aware of that, according to Banks.
The Turkish president’s visit to Armenia last September testifies to the recent thaw in Armenia-Turkey relations, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador said, expressing a hope the Armenian and Turkish leaders would put bilateral relations on a steady course.
No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by official Ankara.
Official Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with Turkey without any preconditions. But Turkey puts preconditions for establishing bilateral relations, particularly requests Armenia to give up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian genocide of 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.
The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch Armenia vs. Turkey World Cup qualifier. -0-
