Armenian, Turkish foreign ministers make joint statement, Switzerland mediates
23.04.2009,
16:57
Turkey and Armenia, together with Switzerland as mediator, have been working intensively with a view to normalizing their bilateral relations and developing them in a spirit of good-neighborliness, and mutual respect, and thus to promoting peace, security
YEREVAN, April 23. /ARKA/. Turkey and Armenia, together with Switzerland as mediator, have been working intensively with a view to normalizing their bilateral relations and developing them in a spirit of good-neighborliness, and mutual respect, and thus to promoting peace, security and stability in the whole region, the RA Foreign Ministry quotes the Armenian-Turkish joint statements of foreign ministries and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
The two parties have achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in this process and they have agreed on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations in a mutually satisfactory manner. In this context, a road-map has been identified. This agreed basis provides a positive prospect for the on-going process, the report says.
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 massacred.
The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch a World Cup qualifier between Armenian and Turkish teams.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed possible establishment of bilateral relations. –0--
The two parties have achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in this process and they have agreed on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations in a mutually satisfactory manner. In this context, a road-map has been identified. This agreed basis provides a positive prospect for the on-going process, the report says.
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 massacred.
The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch a World Cup qualifier between Armenian and Turkish teams.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed possible establishment of bilateral relations. –0--
