EU commissioner hopes for revival of Armenian-Turkish process
29.04.2011,
20:38
EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule considers that Armenian-Turkish process can be revived.
YEREVAN, April 29. /ARKA/. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule considers that Armenian-Turkish process can be revived.
“Armenia and Turkey have made great efforts to normalize their relations. Unfortunately, the large step and ratification of protocols did not take place. I hope, that this issue will remain on the agenda and if the situation will be more favorable, we can return to this issue and revive the process”, said Fule in the press-conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan on Friday.
Speaking about Turkey’s efforts to join EU, Fule reminded that the candidate-state should have good relations with its neighbors. “We consider, that Turkey will not be exception from this general approach”, he said.
Nalbandyan said that the last interview given to one of mass media by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu contains positive signal. According to him, directly or indirectly pre-conditions for ratification of protocols sound.
By this, Turkey does not respect its obligations and opposes itself to the international community, whose position is consonant to our approaches to ratify and implement protocols without pre-conditions”, said Nalbandyan.
“I don’t think that such a position of Turkey can get somewhere”, he said.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmed Davutoghlu signed “Protocol on establishment of diplomatic relations” and “Protocol on development of mutual relations” on October 10, Saturday, in Zurich. Then these documents should be approved by the parliaments of both countries. Armenian-Turkish border was closed since 1993 by the official initiative of Ankara. Complicated relations between two countries were due to the fact that Ankara supported Azerbaijan in Karabakh problem and also an acute reaction of Turkey on the process of international recognition of Armenian Genocide of 1915 in Ottoman Empire. --0—
“Armenia and Turkey have made great efforts to normalize their relations. Unfortunately, the large step and ratification of protocols did not take place. I hope, that this issue will remain on the agenda and if the situation will be more favorable, we can return to this issue and revive the process”, said Fule in the press-conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan on Friday.
Speaking about Turkey’s efforts to join EU, Fule reminded that the candidate-state should have good relations with its neighbors. “We consider, that Turkey will not be exception from this general approach”, he said.
Nalbandyan said that the last interview given to one of mass media by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu contains positive signal. According to him, directly or indirectly pre-conditions for ratification of protocols sound.
By this, Turkey does not respect its obligations and opposes itself to the international community, whose position is consonant to our approaches to ratify and implement protocols without pre-conditions”, said Nalbandyan.
“I don’t think that such a position of Turkey can get somewhere”, he said.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmed Davutoghlu signed “Protocol on establishment of diplomatic relations” and “Protocol on development of mutual relations” on October 10, Saturday, in Zurich. Then these documents should be approved by the parliaments of both countries. Armenian-Turkish border was closed since 1993 by the official initiative of Ankara. Complicated relations between two countries were due to the fact that Ankara supported Azerbaijan in Karabakh problem and also an acute reaction of Turkey on the process of international recognition of Armenian Genocide of 1915 in Ottoman Empire. --0—
