Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Turkish - Armenian Relations In 2008

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Turkish - Armenian Relations In 2008

    Turkish Press
    Jan 5 2009


    Turkish - Armenian Relations In 2008


    Published: 1/5/2009

    BAKU - The beginning of a dialogue process between Turkey and its
    problematic neighbor Armenia was the most important incident in 2008
    in bilateral relations as it brought life to very limited relations
    between the two countries.
    Turkish President Abdullah Gul accepted an invitation by the Armenian
    President Serzh Sargsian to watch a Turkey-Armenia World Cup qualifier
    match in Yerevan.
    Abdullah Gul met with Sargsian in Yerevan on September 6. President
    Gul said that he wishes the soccer match between Turkey and Armenia to
    help lift obstacles that prevent the peoples of Turkey and Armenia
    from getting closer to each other and to contribute to regional
    friendship and peace.
    On September 7, President Gul said that he witnessed the Armenian side
    to be in agreement with Turkey in trying to lift obstacles that block
    the development of bilateral relations through dialogue.
    In addition to Gul's talks in Yerevan, the meetings held by the
    Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan with his Azerbaijani and Armenian
    counterparts in various platforms were important steps that
    contributed to the dialogue process with Armenia.
    Armenian President Sargsian said that there may be very positive
    developments with Turkey in less than a year.
    Armenian officials said that they welcomed a proposal by Turkey to
    establish a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform.
    "We are ready to open our border with Turkey and establish diplomatic
    relations without preconditions," told Armenian authorities.
    Though the Turkish-Armenian border is closed, around 60,000 Armenian
    tourists visit Turkey annually.
    Around 70,000 Armenian citizens work as illegal migrants in Turkey.
    Armenia's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory, Armenia's
    one-sided description of the incidents of 1915 and statements in
    Armenian Constitution that allege that a portion of Turkey's territory
    actually belongs to the Armenians are some of the problems in
    bilateral relations.
    (SOL-AÖ)
    TURKEY IN 2008 -(DIP)
Working...
X