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ARMENIAN LEADER BACKS TURKEYS EU ACCESSION
AssA-Irada
July 7, 2009 Tuesday
Azerbaijan
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said his country has never
been opposed to Turkeys admission to the European Union, and, on the
contrary, supports its accession to the bloc. Turkeys EU admission
could turn it into a country that is safer and more compliant with
our perceptions, Sarkisian said after hosting Greek Cypriot President
Dimitris Christofias on Monday. Sarkisian noted that Turkeys admission
is pivotal.
We are expecting neighborhood complying with European standards
from a neighboring EU member state, the Armenian leader told a
joint news conference. These relations pertain to both economic
and political issues as well as mutual agreements. Otherwise,
disrespect for such agreements deepens the lack of confidence and
poses obstacles. Christofias, for his part, opined that Turkey could
be admitted to the EU only after it has amply developed and met
European criteria. Turkey and Armenia face decades of hostility due
to Armenias policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and claims
on the World War I-era genocide in the Ottoman Empire. However, there
have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties of late. The
two governments announced a "roadmap" in April in a move to mend
ties. Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Sarkisian said there
were currently no advances in the conflict settlement. The conflicting
sides are aware that the core issue is the [determination of] Upper
(Nagorno) Garabaghs status, and I am pleased that the number of
advocates for this idea is increasing, he alleged. Sarkisian added that
Yerevan backs a peaceful solution of the long-standing dispute pursuant
to international law. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that
ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues
to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts. Baku
says the occupied districts must be freed and Azerbaijani refugees
displaced during the armed conflict in the early 1990s returned home,
and only after that could the status of Upper Garabagh be determined
within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
AssA-Irada
July 7, 2009 Tuesday
Azerbaijan
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said his country has never
been opposed to Turkeys admission to the European Union, and, on the
contrary, supports its accession to the bloc. Turkeys EU admission
could turn it into a country that is safer and more compliant with
our perceptions, Sarkisian said after hosting Greek Cypriot President
Dimitris Christofias on Monday. Sarkisian noted that Turkeys admission
is pivotal.
We are expecting neighborhood complying with European standards
from a neighboring EU member state, the Armenian leader told a
joint news conference. These relations pertain to both economic
and political issues as well as mutual agreements. Otherwise,
disrespect for such agreements deepens the lack of confidence and
poses obstacles. Christofias, for his part, opined that Turkey could
be admitted to the EU only after it has amply developed and met
European criteria. Turkey and Armenia face decades of hostility due
to Armenias policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and claims
on the World War I-era genocide in the Ottoman Empire. However, there
have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties of late. The
two governments announced a "roadmap" in April in a move to mend
ties. Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Sarkisian said there
were currently no advances in the conflict settlement. The conflicting
sides are aware that the core issue is the [determination of] Upper
(Nagorno) Garabaghs status, and I am pleased that the number of
advocates for this idea is increasing, he alleged. Sarkisian added that
Yerevan backs a peaceful solution of the long-standing dispute pursuant
to international law. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that
ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues
to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts. Baku
says the occupied districts must be freed and Azerbaijani refugees
displaced during the armed conflict in the early 1990s returned home,
and only after that could the status of Upper Garabagh be determined
within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.