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U.S. Welcomes A Possible Erdogan - Kocharian Meeting
Turkish Press
May 4 2005
ANKARA - The United States welcomes Turkey's recent proposals regarding
so-called Armenian genocide allegations and a possible meeting between
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian.
U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for European & Eurasian
Affairs Laura Kennedy, who is currently in Turkey, informed reporters
about her meetings with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali
Tuygan, Deputy Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan and National Security
Council Secretary General Yigit Alpogan on Tuesday.
Kennedy said that the United States welcomes positive assessment of
Turkey about Kocharian's letter which was sent to Turkey as a reply
to Erdogan's letter. She added that there is a strategical interest
in normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations.
Kennedy noted that the United States considered exchange of letters
between Erdogan and Kocharian a promising development and they are
expecting this exchange to continue. She said that the United States
will welcome meeting of Erdogan and Kocharian during Council of Europe
summit in Warsaw.
Upon a question regarding Armenia's not recognizing Turkey borders,
Kennedy said that they have never heard such a statement from Armenian
officials so far.
When recalled of Erdogan's proposal to establish a commission of
historians and Kocharian's proposal to establish an intergovernmental
commission to research so-called Armenian genocide, Kennedy said that
a consensus can be provided regarding these two different views.
After Turkey, Kennedy will visit Greece, Cyprus, Britain and
Brussels. She said that firstly Greek Cypriot side should convey its
concerns to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to start a new tour of
talks for solution of Cyprus question.
She added that the United States supports Annan's goodwill mission.
Annan should see the necessary political will in both sides to resume
the talks, noted Kennedy.
Kennedy said that Annan wants to know about concerns of Greek Cypriot
leader Tassos Papadopoulos. Annan wants to learn about those concerns,
and they wanted to encourage Papadopoulos for solution within that
scope, added Kennedy.
Upon a question, Kennedy said that they have not decided yet whether
to start direct flights from the United States to Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), adding that the United States exerts the
most effort for lifting of isolation over TRNC.
Turkish Press
May 4 2005
ANKARA - The United States welcomes Turkey's recent proposals regarding
so-called Armenian genocide allegations and a possible meeting between
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian.
U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for European & Eurasian
Affairs Laura Kennedy, who is currently in Turkey, informed reporters
about her meetings with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali
Tuygan, Deputy Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan and National Security
Council Secretary General Yigit Alpogan on Tuesday.
Kennedy said that the United States welcomes positive assessment of
Turkey about Kocharian's letter which was sent to Turkey as a reply
to Erdogan's letter. She added that there is a strategical interest
in normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations.
Kennedy noted that the United States considered exchange of letters
between Erdogan and Kocharian a promising development and they are
expecting this exchange to continue. She said that the United States
will welcome meeting of Erdogan and Kocharian during Council of Europe
summit in Warsaw.
Upon a question regarding Armenia's not recognizing Turkey borders,
Kennedy said that they have never heard such a statement from Armenian
officials so far.
When recalled of Erdogan's proposal to establish a commission of
historians and Kocharian's proposal to establish an intergovernmental
commission to research so-called Armenian genocide, Kennedy said that
a consensus can be provided regarding these two different views.
After Turkey, Kennedy will visit Greece, Cyprus, Britain and
Brussels. She said that firstly Greek Cypriot side should convey its
concerns to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to start a new tour of
talks for solution of Cyprus question.
She added that the United States supports Annan's goodwill mission.
Annan should see the necessary political will in both sides to resume
the talks, noted Kennedy.
Kennedy said that Annan wants to know about concerns of Greek Cypriot
leader Tassos Papadopoulos. Annan wants to learn about those concerns,
and they wanted to encourage Papadopoulos for solution within that
scope, added Kennedy.
Upon a question, Kennedy said that they have not decided yet whether
to start direct flights from the United States to Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), adding that the United States exerts the
most effort for lifting of isolation over TRNC.