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Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 8 2012
`2015 will be opportunity to normalize ties with Armenia'
8 June 2012 / SİNEM CENGİZ, YEREVAN
American Ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern has said 2015, the
centennial of the events of 1915, will be an opportunity for Turkey to
improve relations with Armenia, adding that it will be an important
year for both sides.
`Hopefully Turkey and Armenia will find a way to make 2015 an
inclusive affair and part of a constructive process. 2015 will be a
sensitive year. Therefore, it will be an opportunity to bring two
nations together,' said Heffern, adding there was great anticipation
of 2015 in Armenia.
`2015 should be a year of win-win for both countries, not win-lose,'
said the ambassador. In an interview with Today's Zaman, Heffern
stated that relations between Turkey and Armenia were not important
solely for the sake of the two nations involved but also for the
Unites States. He recommended three tracks to be taken between the two
countries: `The first track is the ratification and the implementation
of the protocols, which is the key and primary track. The US hopes
both sides will ratify and implement the protocols, which have already
been signed.'
`[The United States'] primary goal is to bring about reconciliation
between Turkey and Armenia,' said Heffern, adding the US had not
ceased to support the protocols.
A historic reconciliation process was launched between Turkey and
Armenia in 2009 when the two sides signed twin protocols to normalize
diplomatic relations, but the move was not well received in
Azerbaijan. The protocols, signed in Zurich, shook Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations as the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan has yet to be peacefully settled.
The ratification of the protocols stalled after Turkey insisted
Armenia first agree to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. The issue of Armenia's withdrawal from the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and seven adjacent territories is important to Ankara, which
has frequently signaled that this step would pave the way for the
opening of its border with Armenia.
Heffern also touched upon increasing tensions that rose along the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border last Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of
soldiers from both sides. `Nagorno-Karabakh is indeed an important
issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The recent clashes along the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border shows that Nagorno-Karabakh is a critical
issue and that the status quo is not acceptable to either side,' said
Heffern.
The clashes come just as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has
embarked on a tour of the South Caucasus in the hope of mediating
advancement in territorial disputes in the region. Warning that
Azeri-Armenian tensions could escalate into a broader conflict with
serious consequences, Clinton said the US would continue to press on
mediation efforts, along with France, Russia and other nations.
Heffern stated that the US, through the Minsk Group -- a multipartite
platform established to seek a solution to the political and
territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia -- had tried to
find a peaceful solution to the dispute. `There is no other solution
than a peaceful solution. The US believes that diplomacy is the right
path to reconciliation,' said Heffern.
The ambassador also touched upon the further two tracks he recommends
be run by the two countries. The second track involves economic
measures, including the reopening of railroads between Kars and
Gyumri. `If the railroad reopens there will be a tremendous boost in
trade and tourism,' said Heffern, adding that the railroad could be
opened without opening the full border.
The third track outlined by Heffern was the reconciliation of the
people and cross-border exchanges. `We [the US] will continue to
stimulate cross-border exchanges between journalists, students and
businesspeople,' he said.
`I know relations between Turkey and Armenia are very emotional and
sensitive, but the US has hopes that these three tracks will be
followed,' concluded Heffern.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-282941-2015-will-be-opportunity-to-normalize-ties-with-armenia.html
June 8 2012
`2015 will be opportunity to normalize ties with Armenia'
8 June 2012 / SİNEM CENGİZ, YEREVAN
American Ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern has said 2015, the
centennial of the events of 1915, will be an opportunity for Turkey to
improve relations with Armenia, adding that it will be an important
year for both sides.
`Hopefully Turkey and Armenia will find a way to make 2015 an
inclusive affair and part of a constructive process. 2015 will be a
sensitive year. Therefore, it will be an opportunity to bring two
nations together,' said Heffern, adding there was great anticipation
of 2015 in Armenia.
`2015 should be a year of win-win for both countries, not win-lose,'
said the ambassador. In an interview with Today's Zaman, Heffern
stated that relations between Turkey and Armenia were not important
solely for the sake of the two nations involved but also for the
Unites States. He recommended three tracks to be taken between the two
countries: `The first track is the ratification and the implementation
of the protocols, which is the key and primary track. The US hopes
both sides will ratify and implement the protocols, which have already
been signed.'
`[The United States'] primary goal is to bring about reconciliation
between Turkey and Armenia,' said Heffern, adding the US had not
ceased to support the protocols.
A historic reconciliation process was launched between Turkey and
Armenia in 2009 when the two sides signed twin protocols to normalize
diplomatic relations, but the move was not well received in
Azerbaijan. The protocols, signed in Zurich, shook Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations as the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan has yet to be peacefully settled.
The ratification of the protocols stalled after Turkey insisted
Armenia first agree to resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. The issue of Armenia's withdrawal from the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and seven adjacent territories is important to Ankara, which
has frequently signaled that this step would pave the way for the
opening of its border with Armenia.
Heffern also touched upon increasing tensions that rose along the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border last Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of
soldiers from both sides. `Nagorno-Karabakh is indeed an important
issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The recent clashes along the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border shows that Nagorno-Karabakh is a critical
issue and that the status quo is not acceptable to either side,' said
Heffern.
The clashes come just as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has
embarked on a tour of the South Caucasus in the hope of mediating
advancement in territorial disputes in the region. Warning that
Azeri-Armenian tensions could escalate into a broader conflict with
serious consequences, Clinton said the US would continue to press on
mediation efforts, along with France, Russia and other nations.
Heffern stated that the US, through the Minsk Group -- a multipartite
platform established to seek a solution to the political and
territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia -- had tried to
find a peaceful solution to the dispute. `There is no other solution
than a peaceful solution. The US believes that diplomacy is the right
path to reconciliation,' said Heffern.
The ambassador also touched upon the further two tracks he recommends
be run by the two countries. The second track involves economic
measures, including the reopening of railroads between Kars and
Gyumri. `If the railroad reopens there will be a tremendous boost in
trade and tourism,' said Heffern, adding that the railroad could be
opened without opening the full border.
The third track outlined by Heffern was the reconciliation of the
people and cross-border exchanges. `We [the US] will continue to
stimulate cross-border exchanges between journalists, students and
businesspeople,' he said.
`I know relations between Turkey and Armenia are very emotional and
sensitive, but the US has hopes that these three tracks will be
followed,' concluded Heffern.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-282941-2015-will-be-opportunity-to-normalize-ties-with-armenia.html