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Armenian minister denies media reports on Turkish plans to open border
Arminfo, Yerevan
21 Jun 04
There are no concrete prospects at the moment for the reopening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has
said in an interview with Armenian Public Television.
Commenting on the Turkish media reports about the Turkish Foreign
Ministry preparing to open the Ak Yaka border checkpoint and asked
about the seriousness of the initiative, Oskanyan said that he did not
attach special importance to what the Turkish media had
reported. "These reports sometimes reflect an official position, but
sometimes they do not. I trust the facts we can see and receive as a
result of our talks," he said. The issue is on the agenda of the
Armenian-American, Armenian-Turkish and Turkish-American talks, he
added. "I am sure this is the case as during every meeting with
high-ranking representatives of the USA, they assure me that the issue
is raised during a dialogue with the Turkish side, because the opening
of the border is not only in the interests of Armenia, Turkey and our
region, but also in the interests of the USA," Oskanyan said.
He said he was sure that Washington and the Turkish side were
interested in it, but Turkey was still under Azerbaijan's pressure. On
the other hand, there is the issue of Turkey's admission to the
European Union and the issue of NATO expansion. Turkey should feel
great responsibility to these organizations, Oskanyan said. "I think
that this should manifest itself in the form of indirect pressure
intended to compel Ankara to alter its policy on Armenia," he said.
He recalled that Armenia is already involved in the EU's "Expanded
Europe: New Neighbours" programme and Turkey will probably be granted
the right to start negotiations on EU membership in late 2004 and
early 2005. "In this context, Turkey should be more responsible in its
role of a link between Europe and the Caucasus, the Caucasus and the
EU, and the Caucasus and NATO, as Turkey is a member of NATO which is
expanding and beginning to involve the Caucasus and Central Asia," the
minister noted.
He said that Turkey must be feeling and is feeling not only pressure
from the USA and EU, but also Europe's expansion and NATO's new policy
regarding the Caucasus and Central Asia. This is on the one hand, and
on the other, there is pressure from Azerbaijan, the Armenian foreign
minister noted, adding that "there is the question of what will be the
dominating factor". "In any case, I believe that we shall continue our
dialogue with the Turkish side, the USA and EU will continue to urge
Turkey to normalize the relations with Armenia and one can expect that
we shall definitely see progress on this issue in the future," the
minister noted.
Arminfo, Yerevan
21 Jun 04
There are no concrete prospects at the moment for the reopening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has
said in an interview with Armenian Public Television.
Commenting on the Turkish media reports about the Turkish Foreign
Ministry preparing to open the Ak Yaka border checkpoint and asked
about the seriousness of the initiative, Oskanyan said that he did not
attach special importance to what the Turkish media had
reported. "These reports sometimes reflect an official position, but
sometimes they do not. I trust the facts we can see and receive as a
result of our talks," he said. The issue is on the agenda of the
Armenian-American, Armenian-Turkish and Turkish-American talks, he
added. "I am sure this is the case as during every meeting with
high-ranking representatives of the USA, they assure me that the issue
is raised during a dialogue with the Turkish side, because the opening
of the border is not only in the interests of Armenia, Turkey and our
region, but also in the interests of the USA," Oskanyan said.
He said he was sure that Washington and the Turkish side were
interested in it, but Turkey was still under Azerbaijan's pressure. On
the other hand, there is the issue of Turkey's admission to the
European Union and the issue of NATO expansion. Turkey should feel
great responsibility to these organizations, Oskanyan said. "I think
that this should manifest itself in the form of indirect pressure
intended to compel Ankara to alter its policy on Armenia," he said.
He recalled that Armenia is already involved in the EU's "Expanded
Europe: New Neighbours" programme and Turkey will probably be granted
the right to start negotiations on EU membership in late 2004 and
early 2005. "In this context, Turkey should be more responsible in its
role of a link between Europe and the Caucasus, the Caucasus and the
EU, and the Caucasus and NATO, as Turkey is a member of NATO which is
expanding and beginning to involve the Caucasus and Central Asia," the
minister noted.
He said that Turkey must be feeling and is feeling not only pressure
from the USA and EU, but also Europe's expansion and NATO's new policy
regarding the Caucasus and Central Asia. This is on the one hand, and
on the other, there is pressure from Azerbaijan, the Armenian foreign
minister noted, adding that "there is the question of what will be the
dominating factor". "In any case, I believe that we shall continue our
dialogue with the Turkish side, the USA and EU will continue to urge
Turkey to normalize the relations with Armenia and one can expect that
we shall definitely see progress on this issue in the future," the
minister noted.