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SWISS TRY TO UNBLOCK ARMENIA-TURKEY DEAL
swissinfo.ch
May 3 2011
Switzerland
President Micheline Calmy-Rey has held talks with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan over a Swiss-mediated deal aimed at normalising
relations with Turkey.
Sargsyan thanked Switzerland for its efforts but accused Turkey of
blocking implementation of the 2009 landmark treaty.
He said he had "interesting discussions" with Calmy-Rey to try to
end the deadlock.
The meeting in Bern also focused on boosting economic and development
cooperation between Armenia and Switzerland, the foreign ministry
said on Tuesday.
It was the first official visit by an Armenian President to Switzerland
and comes a month after Calmy-Rey opened a Swiss embassy to the
Armenian capital, Yerevan.
The trade volume between the two countries has been modest - less
than SFr10 million ($11.6 million) - but Switzerland has contributed
about SFr5 million annually to development aid for Armenia, according
to the foreign ministry.
In October 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed a deal in Zurich to normalise
relations strained over a historic conflict at the beginning of the
20th century, notably the issue of mass deportations and genocide of
ethnic Armenians during the Ottoman empire.
However, the agreement has been put on hold as a result of a regional
conflict.
From: A. Papazian
swissinfo.ch
May 3 2011
Switzerland
President Micheline Calmy-Rey has held talks with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan over a Swiss-mediated deal aimed at normalising
relations with Turkey.
Sargsyan thanked Switzerland for its efforts but accused Turkey of
blocking implementation of the 2009 landmark treaty.
He said he had "interesting discussions" with Calmy-Rey to try to
end the deadlock.
The meeting in Bern also focused on boosting economic and development
cooperation between Armenia and Switzerland, the foreign ministry
said on Tuesday.
It was the first official visit by an Armenian President to Switzerland
and comes a month after Calmy-Rey opened a Swiss embassy to the
Armenian capital, Yerevan.
The trade volume between the two countries has been modest - less
than SFr10 million ($11.6 million) - but Switzerland has contributed
about SFr5 million annually to development aid for Armenia, according
to the foreign ministry.
In October 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed a deal in Zurich to normalise
relations strained over a historic conflict at the beginning of the
20th century, notably the issue of mass deportations and genocide of
ethnic Armenians during the Ottoman empire.
However, the agreement has been put on hold as a result of a regional
conflict.
From: A. Papazian