EU interested in development of Armenian-Turkish relations

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. The European Union (EU) is interested in the development of Armenian0-Turkish relations, EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated at his meeting with Speaker of the RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan.

The public relations department, RA Parliament, reports that Semneby confirmed the EU’s concern over regional problems and interest in the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

According to him, the EU wishes to see more predictable relations and believes that European integration affords ample opportunities for this.

Speaker Torosyan expressed satisfaction with Semneby’s visit to Yerevan to take part in the parliamentary hearings and pointed out that this is evidence of the EU’s attention to regional problems.

The RA Parliament has held hearings on problems and prospects of Armenian-Turkish relations.

The hearings were attended by representatives of a number of Armenian and international organizations, political parties, as well as by Peter Semneby. A Turkish representative declined the Armenian Parliament’s invitation.

Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations. In 1993, the Armenian-Turkish border was closed on official Ankara’s initiative.

Turkey sets three preconditions for the establishment of bilateral relations: settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Azerbaijan’s favour, Armenia’s recognition of Turkey’s borders and abrogation of its policy of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. P.T. –0--