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GLOBAL LEADERS APPLAUD ARMENIA-TURKEY DEAL
Today's Zaman
Sept 2 2009
Turkey
Several international organizations have delivered congratulatory
messages over an announcement Monday by Armenia and Turkey that they
are launching final talks aimed at establishing diplomatic ties.
The Swiss-mediated talks are expected to last six weeks, the two
sides said in a joint statement. The two countries, which have no
diplomatic ties and a history of animosity stemming from the killings
of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I, announced
late on Monday that they plan to sign accords within six weeks under
a plan to end a century of hostility.
Under the agreement, both sides would hold domestic consultations
before signing two protocols on the establishment of diplomatic ties
and the development of bilateral relations. The protocols would have
to be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries.
The European Union, which has long asked candidate member Turkey
to normalize ties with its neighbor as a way to improve regional
security, welcomed the protocol agreement and urged Ankara and Yerevan
to implement the protocols rapidly. "This agreement should contribute
to peace and stability in the South Caucasus," EU External Relations
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU Enlargement Commissioner
Olli Rehn said in a statement delivered Tuesday.
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the chairperson-in-office
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
whose Minsk Group has been working for a decade and a half to mediate
the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, also
welcomed the move by the two neighboring countries, echoing the EU
in saying such a development would contribute to regional stability.
"The establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia
would be a positive step not just for the South Caucasus region,
but for the wider world," Bakoyannis said on Tuesday. "I warmly
welcome this positive step toward normalization of ties between two
OSCE-participating states," she said, calling on both sides to build
on the positive momentum achieved in the Swiss-led talks.
Another welcoming message came from Europe's top human rights body, the
Council of Europe. Acting Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said she strongly welcomed the agreement
between Turkey and Armenia to sign two protocols on establishing
diplomatic relations.
"This is a historic event for both countries and the region," de
Boer-Buquicchio declared on Tuesday. "It will help to normalize
the relations between two member states of the Council of Europe,
and I would like to encourage the two countries to continue on the
path which will help to improve stability in this part of Europe."
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the
Helsinki Commission, welcomed the decision of the Turkish and Armenian
governments to move towards normalization of relations as well.
The Helsinki Commission is an independent US government agency which
monitors and encourages compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and
other OSCE commitments in the 56 OSCE-participating states states.
"I hope these countries with close ties to the US will maintain this
positive momentum through open and constructive dialogue. The Swiss
intermediaries deserve credit for helping Ankara and Yerevan address
their common challenges," Senator Benjamin Cardin, chairman of the
commission, said.
"The recent developments in ongoing negotiations between Turkey
and Armenia are very encouraging," Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee
Hastings said. "The opening of borders will benefit the people of
these OSCE-participating states and have a positive impact on regional
stability and security."
Following welcoming messages from France and the United States, two
chairs of the Minsk Group, the third co-chair, Russia, also welcomed
Armenia and Turkey's intent to normalize bilateral relations Tuesday.
"We hope that an improvement in relations between the two neighbors
will revitalize bilateral trade and economic contacts and will have
a positive impact on the socio-economic situation of both states,"
the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its Web
site, adding that a better relationship between Armenia and Turkey
"will help normalize the situation in the region and strengthen peace
and security."
Today's Zaman
Sept 2 2009
Turkey
Several international organizations have delivered congratulatory
messages over an announcement Monday by Armenia and Turkey that they
are launching final talks aimed at establishing diplomatic ties.
The Swiss-mediated talks are expected to last six weeks, the two
sides said in a joint statement. The two countries, which have no
diplomatic ties and a history of animosity stemming from the killings
of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I, announced
late on Monday that they plan to sign accords within six weeks under
a plan to end a century of hostility.
Under the agreement, both sides would hold domestic consultations
before signing two protocols on the establishment of diplomatic ties
and the development of bilateral relations. The protocols would have
to be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries.
The European Union, which has long asked candidate member Turkey
to normalize ties with its neighbor as a way to improve regional
security, welcomed the protocol agreement and urged Ankara and Yerevan
to implement the protocols rapidly. "This agreement should contribute
to peace and stability in the South Caucasus," EU External Relations
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU Enlargement Commissioner
Olli Rehn said in a statement delivered Tuesday.
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the chairperson-in-office
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
whose Minsk Group has been working for a decade and a half to mediate
the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, also
welcomed the move by the two neighboring countries, echoing the EU
in saying such a development would contribute to regional stability.
"The establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia
would be a positive step not just for the South Caucasus region,
but for the wider world," Bakoyannis said on Tuesday. "I warmly
welcome this positive step toward normalization of ties between two
OSCE-participating states," she said, calling on both sides to build
on the positive momentum achieved in the Swiss-led talks.
Another welcoming message came from Europe's top human rights body, the
Council of Europe. Acting Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said she strongly welcomed the agreement
between Turkey and Armenia to sign two protocols on establishing
diplomatic relations.
"This is a historic event for both countries and the region," de
Boer-Buquicchio declared on Tuesday. "It will help to normalize
the relations between two member states of the Council of Europe,
and I would like to encourage the two countries to continue on the
path which will help to improve stability in this part of Europe."
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the
Helsinki Commission, welcomed the decision of the Turkish and Armenian
governments to move towards normalization of relations as well.
The Helsinki Commission is an independent US government agency which
monitors and encourages compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and
other OSCE commitments in the 56 OSCE-participating states states.
"I hope these countries with close ties to the US will maintain this
positive momentum through open and constructive dialogue. The Swiss
intermediaries deserve credit for helping Ankara and Yerevan address
their common challenges," Senator Benjamin Cardin, chairman of the
commission, said.
"The recent developments in ongoing negotiations between Turkey
and Armenia are very encouraging," Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee
Hastings said. "The opening of borders will benefit the people of
these OSCE-participating states and have a positive impact on regional
stability and security."
Following welcoming messages from France and the United States, two
chairs of the Minsk Group, the third co-chair, Russia, also welcomed
Armenia and Turkey's intent to normalize bilateral relations Tuesday.
"We hope that an improvement in relations between the two neighbors
will revitalize bilateral trade and economic contacts and will have
a positive impact on the socio-economic situation of both states,"
the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its Web
site, adding that a better relationship between Armenia and Turkey
"will help normalize the situation in the region and strengthen peace
and security."