Tweet
ARMENIA PRESSES FOR OPEN BORDER, DIPLOMATIC TIES
Today's Zaman
Nov 25 2008
Turkey
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian (R) shakes hands with
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Secretary
General Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos at the BSEC headquarters in Ä°stanbul
on Monday.
The Armenian foreign minister yesterday called for normalization
of ties with estranged neighbor Turkey, saying an open border and
diplomatic relations will serve both countries' interests and foster
regional peace.
Speaking at a press conference before a meeting with Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan, Edward Nalbandian also said Armenian President
Serzh Sarksyan will visit Turkey in October 2009 to watch a game
between the national soccer teams of the two countries, reciprocating
a similar visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in September. "There
is active dialogue going on," Nalbandian said at the headquarters
of the secretariat of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC), a regional cooperative organization for which
Armenia is currently holding the rotating presidency. "I don't see
any serious obstacle for the normalization of ties," he said.
Turkey severed its diplomatic ties with Armenia and closed its border
in 1993 in protest against the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh
in Azerbaijan.
Ankara says the normalization of relations depends on Armenia's
withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh and an end to Yerevan's support for
the Armenian diaspora's efforts to win international recognition
for claims that Armenians were subjected to genocide at the hands
of the Ottoman Empire. But the visit by President Gul in early
September to Yerevan to watch a World Cup qualifying match between
Turkey and Armenia's national teams broke the ice between the
two countries. Officials have been holding talks on the possible
normalization of relations since that historic visit.
In September, on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting in
New York, Babacan and Nalbandian had three-way talks with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute.
Describing the ongoing talks as "very positive and sincere," Nalbandian
said Armenia and Turkey have a very good opportunity on their hands
that needs to be seized. He said by normalization he meant the opening
of the border and the restoration of diplomatic relations. "Armenia
is ready to establish bilateral relations without any preconditions
and we are expecting the same from the Turkish side," Nalbandian
said. "This is not a favor. It is in the interest of Turkey to open
the border and this is in the interest of Armenia."
The Armenian foreign minister said both sides have made their
commitment to the normalization of relations clear during the ongoing
negotiations but did not elaborate on possible steps that may be
taken. News reports said yesterday Turkey has been planning to accredit
its current ambassador to Georgia as an ambassador to Armenia, thus
establishing a de facto diplomatic relationship with Yerevan. At the
moment, Ankara's messages to Yerevan are first sent to its ambassador
in Tbilisi, who hands over this message to the Georgian government
for it to be conveyed to the Armenian government. Nalbandian also
said it would be a good step for expanding business ties between
Turkey and Armenia if Turkish Airlines (THY) were to launch charter
flights to Armenia.
THY recently sent unofficial letters to both the Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (SHGM) and the Foreign Ministry asking for information
regarding charter flights by Armenian national air company Armavia from
Yerevan to Ä°stanbul and the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya,
Today's Zaman has learned. THY asked about the arrangements and
agreements involving these flights.
In its response, the SHGM said the flights have been taking place
with the Foreign Ministry's approval and that permission for Armavia's
charter flights to Turkey is renewed every two or three weeks. In the
coming days, THY is expected to send another letter to the Foreign
Ministry asking whether launching charter flights to Yerevan would
"comply with the national interests" of the Turkey. The final decision
will be made after receiving the Foreign Ministry's response outlining
Ankara's stance on the issue. Nalbandian also outlined his country's
priorities for the next six months as rotating term president of the
BSEC. Regional cooperation is needed for economic improvement in the
region, Nalbandian said.
--Boundary_(ID_8dzCVw1w12VPMPhkgqkMUw)--
Today's Zaman
Nov 25 2008
Turkey
Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian (R) shakes hands with
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Secretary
General Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos at the BSEC headquarters in Ä°stanbul
on Monday.
The Armenian foreign minister yesterday called for normalization
of ties with estranged neighbor Turkey, saying an open border and
diplomatic relations will serve both countries' interests and foster
regional peace.
Speaking at a press conference before a meeting with Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan, Edward Nalbandian also said Armenian President
Serzh Sarksyan will visit Turkey in October 2009 to watch a game
between the national soccer teams of the two countries, reciprocating
a similar visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in September. "There
is active dialogue going on," Nalbandian said at the headquarters
of the secretariat of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC), a regional cooperative organization for which
Armenia is currently holding the rotating presidency. "I don't see
any serious obstacle for the normalization of ties," he said.
Turkey severed its diplomatic ties with Armenia and closed its border
in 1993 in protest against the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh
in Azerbaijan.
Ankara says the normalization of relations depends on Armenia's
withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh and an end to Yerevan's support for
the Armenian diaspora's efforts to win international recognition
for claims that Armenians were subjected to genocide at the hands
of the Ottoman Empire. But the visit by President Gul in early
September to Yerevan to watch a World Cup qualifying match between
Turkey and Armenia's national teams broke the ice between the
two countries. Officials have been holding talks on the possible
normalization of relations since that historic visit.
In September, on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting in
New York, Babacan and Nalbandian had three-way talks with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute.
Describing the ongoing talks as "very positive and sincere," Nalbandian
said Armenia and Turkey have a very good opportunity on their hands
that needs to be seized. He said by normalization he meant the opening
of the border and the restoration of diplomatic relations. "Armenia
is ready to establish bilateral relations without any preconditions
and we are expecting the same from the Turkish side," Nalbandian
said. "This is not a favor. It is in the interest of Turkey to open
the border and this is in the interest of Armenia."
The Armenian foreign minister said both sides have made their
commitment to the normalization of relations clear during the ongoing
negotiations but did not elaborate on possible steps that may be
taken. News reports said yesterday Turkey has been planning to accredit
its current ambassador to Georgia as an ambassador to Armenia, thus
establishing a de facto diplomatic relationship with Yerevan. At the
moment, Ankara's messages to Yerevan are first sent to its ambassador
in Tbilisi, who hands over this message to the Georgian government
for it to be conveyed to the Armenian government. Nalbandian also
said it would be a good step for expanding business ties between
Turkey and Armenia if Turkish Airlines (THY) were to launch charter
flights to Armenia.
THY recently sent unofficial letters to both the Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (SHGM) and the Foreign Ministry asking for information
regarding charter flights by Armenian national air company Armavia from
Yerevan to Ä°stanbul and the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya,
Today's Zaman has learned. THY asked about the arrangements and
agreements involving these flights.
In its response, the SHGM said the flights have been taking place
with the Foreign Ministry's approval and that permission for Armavia's
charter flights to Turkey is renewed every two or three weeks. In the
coming days, THY is expected to send another letter to the Foreign
Ministry asking whether launching charter flights to Yerevan would
"comply with the national interests" of the Turkey. The final decision
will be made after receiving the Foreign Ministry's response outlining
Ankara's stance on the issue. Nalbandian also outlined his country's
priorities for the next six months as rotating term president of the
BSEC. Regional cooperation is needed for economic improvement in the
region, Nalbandian said.
--Boundary_(ID_8dzCVw1w12VPMPhkgqkMUw)--