President: Armenia facilitates normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations
YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Armenia has facilitated normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at the annual meeting of central foreign ministry staff and heads of Armenian diplomatic missions abroad.
It also helped to raise awareness and obligations of the world community in this respect, Sargsyan said.
Monday Armenia and Turkey reached an agreement to start internal political consultations on two protocols – the protocol about establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries and the protocol about developing the bilateral relations. The consultations are expected to be completed within six weeks, then the protocols will be submitted for parliaments’ approval in the countries.
Armenia has attempted to settle its relations with a neighboring country as it should in the civilized 21st century, Armenian president said.
Sargsyan pointed out several realities reflected in agreements: first, they do not contain any preconditions in respect to Karabakh peace process and other issues; second, historical issues of Armenian-Turkish relations should be discussed not by a commission of historians, but by a subcommission of the intergovernmental commission.
Third, for the first time in the history of Armenia public discussions will precede the signing of an important international document, Sargsyan said.
Sargsyan stressed the importance of public activity in this matter. He said it is necessary to introduce the protocols with both positive and problematic parts to the public.
Sargsyan said active discussions on the issue are also expected in Armenian communities abroad and in international research centers.
No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by official Ankara.
The reason for complicated relations between the countries is particularly Turkey’s pro-Azerbaijani stance on the Karabakh conflict and acute response to the process of international acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915.
The first thaw in the relations was recorded on September 6 2008 when Turkish President Abdullah Gul for the first time arrived in Yerevan invited by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to watch together the football match between the nationals of Armenia and Turkey in 2010 championship qualifying games. During the visit the two leaders discussed possible normalization of the relations. –0--
