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SARKISIAN WARNS OF CANCELING TURKEY VISIT
AzerNews Weekly
April 29 2009
Azerbaijan
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has indicated that he could postpone
his October visit to Turkey, where he is scheduled to attend a soccer
match of the two countries` national teams, if the two countries`
shared border does not open by then.
"If, by that time, the border does open or is very close to opening,
I will gladly accept President Gul`s invitation," Sarkisian told the
English-language Russia Today TV channel.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation of
Azerbaijani territories and Armenian claims regarding the alleged World
War I-era genocide. However, there have been signs of normalization
in Ankara-Yerevan ties in recent years. The two countries` leaders
attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan
in September 2008 when Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish president
to visit Armenia. Further, Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to
Turkey for a return game.
The Armenian leader noted that Yerevan and Ankara face differences
over the alleged genocide issue, but claimed that Turkey`s rejecting
the allegations on mass killings in the Ottoman Empire are not a
hurdle to establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. "We
support forging ties with Turkey without pre-conditions."
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Sarkisian said he "had no
intentions to travel to Turkey merely as a tourist or a football fan."
Commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s recent
statement that the border opening was out of the question until
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has been
resolved, Sarkisian claimed that the statement "is not in line with
our agreement." He added that Yerevan`s stance on the Garabagh conflict
will not change after the Turkey-Armenia border opens.
Recent media reports claiming Turkey plans to soon open its border with
Armenia have sparked an outcry in Azerbaijan. However, the Turkish
premier followed up by saying that Ankara would not take this step
defying Azerbaijan`s interests, somewhat allaying Baku`s concerns.
Further, the Armenian president said that during talks he held
during a recent visit to Moscow, he witnessed Russia`s backing of
the border opening.
Sarkisian emphasized that the US government was making significant
efforts in this area. He also claimed that Washington "would recognize
the Armenian genocide at the time it deems appropriate."
AzerNews Weekly
April 29 2009
Azerbaijan
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has indicated that he could postpone
his October visit to Turkey, where he is scheduled to attend a soccer
match of the two countries` national teams, if the two countries`
shared border does not open by then.
"If, by that time, the border does open or is very close to opening,
I will gladly accept President Gul`s invitation," Sarkisian told the
English-language Russia Today TV channel.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation of
Azerbaijani territories and Armenian claims regarding the alleged World
War I-era genocide. However, there have been signs of normalization
in Ankara-Yerevan ties in recent years. The two countries` leaders
attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan
in September 2008 when Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish president
to visit Armenia. Further, Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to
Turkey for a return game.
The Armenian leader noted that Yerevan and Ankara face differences
over the alleged genocide issue, but claimed that Turkey`s rejecting
the allegations on mass killings in the Ottoman Empire are not a
hurdle to establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. "We
support forging ties with Turkey without pre-conditions."
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Sarkisian said he "had no
intentions to travel to Turkey merely as a tourist or a football fan."
Commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s recent
statement that the border opening was out of the question until
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has been
resolved, Sarkisian claimed that the statement "is not in line with
our agreement." He added that Yerevan`s stance on the Garabagh conflict
will not change after the Turkey-Armenia border opens.
Recent media reports claiming Turkey plans to soon open its border with
Armenia have sparked an outcry in Azerbaijan. However, the Turkish
premier followed up by saying that Ankara would not take this step
defying Azerbaijan`s interests, somewhat allaying Baku`s concerns.
Further, the Armenian president said that during talks he held
during a recent visit to Moscow, he witnessed Russia`s backing of
the border opening.
Sarkisian emphasized that the US government was making significant
efforts in this area. He also claimed that Washington "would recognize
the Armenian genocide at the time it deems appropriate."