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ARMENIA CAN HELP TURKEY BECOME EUROPEAN COUNTRY, OSCE PA
ARKA
Sep 8, 2008
YEREVAN, September 8. /ARKA/. Armenia has a historic chance to help
Turkey become a modern European country, Goran Lenmarker, Special
Representative of the Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Special Reporter on the situation in
Georgia and South Ossetia, stated at his meeting with Speaker of the
RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan.
He expressed his appreciation of Armenia's policy in the region,
pointing out that he expects progress in Armenian-Turkish relations
after Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to Armenia.
He stated that powerful forces in Turkey want to make it a modern
European country but encounter difficulties.
Lenmarker said that Turkey is a Muslim country, where the state is
not often separated from religion, and the incumbent Government,
with religious Government members, wants it, which, in turn, is of
importance for being closer to European policy.
Turkey must find strength to accept its past by admitting the Armenian
Genocide, and become a EU member, after the country meets all the
standards set for EU member-states - the protection of human rights,
democracy and incorrupt society, Lenmarker said.
In this context he pointed out the importance of the establishment of
Armenian-Turkish relations, with the first step to be the reopening
of border between the two countries.
Lenmarker stressed that th e improvement of bilateral relations may
have a psychological effect on Turkey, which will prevent nationalist
forces from dominating the situation and allow Turkey to become a
truly European country.
Speaker Torosyan pointed out that Armenia has always been ready to
establish relations without any preconditions. However, it is Turkey
that sets preconditions.
"Nonetheless, we should look ahead with hope. The different states'
interests clash in the region, but it is the countries of the
region that must primarily be concerned over peace and security in
the region".
Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations, and the
Armenian-Turkish border was closed in 1993 on Turkey's initiative.
Turkey sets a number of preconditions for bilateral relations,
namely, Armenia's abandoning the policy of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and recognizing Turkey's present-day
borders. Besides, Turkey holds an overt pro-Azerbaijani position in
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
ARKA
Sep 8, 2008
YEREVAN, September 8. /ARKA/. Armenia has a historic chance to help
Turkey become a modern European country, Goran Lenmarker, Special
Representative of the Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Special Reporter on the situation in
Georgia and South Ossetia, stated at his meeting with Speaker of the
RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan.
He expressed his appreciation of Armenia's policy in the region,
pointing out that he expects progress in Armenian-Turkish relations
after Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to Armenia.
He stated that powerful forces in Turkey want to make it a modern
European country but encounter difficulties.
Lenmarker said that Turkey is a Muslim country, where the state is
not often separated from religion, and the incumbent Government,
with religious Government members, wants it, which, in turn, is of
importance for being closer to European policy.
Turkey must find strength to accept its past by admitting the Armenian
Genocide, and become a EU member, after the country meets all the
standards set for EU member-states - the protection of human rights,
democracy and incorrupt society, Lenmarker said.
In this context he pointed out the importance of the establishment of
Armenian-Turkish relations, with the first step to be the reopening
of border between the two countries.
Lenmarker stressed that th e improvement of bilateral relations may
have a psychological effect on Turkey, which will prevent nationalist
forces from dominating the situation and allow Turkey to become a
truly European country.
Speaker Torosyan pointed out that Armenia has always been ready to
establish relations without any preconditions. However, it is Turkey
that sets preconditions.
"Nonetheless, we should look ahead with hope. The different states'
interests clash in the region, but it is the countries of the
region that must primarily be concerned over peace and security in
the region".
Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations, and the
Armenian-Turkish border was closed in 1993 on Turkey's initiative.
Turkey sets a number of preconditions for bilateral relations,
namely, Armenia's abandoning the policy of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and recognizing Turkey's present-day
borders. Besides, Turkey holds an overt pro-Azerbaijani position in
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.