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MENDING TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES TO DRAG ON FOR YEARS: CRISIS GROUP REP
AzerNews Weekly
June 3 2009
Azerbaijan
Hopes for a speedy normalization of strained relations between Turkey
and Armenia, marred by history-long tensions, have been shattered,
says a representative of an international group working to prevent
conflicts worldwide.
CNN Turk TV channel quoted Sabine Freizer, the International Crisis
Group (ICG) Europe Program Director, as saying that relations between
the two countries were to normalize by August 2009. However, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s comments during a visit to Baku
May 12-13 that Turkey will not open up its border with Armenia before
the occupation of Azerbaijani territories ends had somewhat set back
the normalization process, she believes.
According to Freizer, Erdogan`s statement appears to conclude that
the mending of Ankara-Yerevan ties will be prolonged for several
more years.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation
of Azerbaijani territories and its claims on alleged World War I-era
genocide. However, there have lately been signs of normalization
in Ankara-Yerevan ties. The two countries` leaders attended a 2010
World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September
2008. Since then, diplomatic efforts aimed at mending ties intensified,
and some reports circulated earlier that Turkey would soon open its
border with Armenia, sparking an outcry in Azerbaijan.
AzerNews Weekly
June 3 2009
Azerbaijan
Hopes for a speedy normalization of strained relations between Turkey
and Armenia, marred by history-long tensions, have been shattered,
says a representative of an international group working to prevent
conflicts worldwide.
CNN Turk TV channel quoted Sabine Freizer, the International Crisis
Group (ICG) Europe Program Director, as saying that relations between
the two countries were to normalize by August 2009. However, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s comments during a visit to Baku
May 12-13 that Turkey will not open up its border with Armenia before
the occupation of Azerbaijani territories ends had somewhat set back
the normalization process, she believes.
According to Freizer, Erdogan`s statement appears to conclude that
the mending of Ankara-Yerevan ties will be prolonged for several
more years.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation
of Azerbaijani territories and its claims on alleged World War I-era
genocide. However, there have lately been signs of normalization
in Ankara-Yerevan ties. The two countries` leaders attended a 2010
World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September
2008. Since then, diplomatic efforts aimed at mending ties intensified,
and some reports circulated earlier that Turkey would soon open its
border with Armenia, sparking an outcry in Azerbaijan.